Community input into development that affects residential communities is an issue that Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. admits is personal to him. Water Island is no exception to that rule and earlier this month, de Jongh held a meeting with Water Island residents to address management issues and to announce the issuance of an Expression of Interest for potential hotel development on the island.
“We believe that a boutique hotel on Water Island not only provides for further economic activity on the island but a first-step on rebranding our offerings through a public-private partnership that leverages government resources. But, success is only possible with community support and reaching the right potential partners. Through the Department of Property and Procurement, we engaged REVPAR International to provide guidance and with this meeting and we gauging the interest and concerns of those that live on Water Island. We want to reinvest in Water Island in a managed way and in a careful way that respects what we already have and at the same time, holds true to the economic development of the territory,” de Jongh said to a group of nearly 100 year-round residents.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty expressed her excitement for returning tourism on Water Island to the “uniquely exotic Caribbean and definitely American in-place to go” as remembered by many Virgin Islanders from the 1970’s and 80’s, and expanded on how that development would fill a significant gap in the upscale market in the Virgin Islands.
Property and Procurement Commissioner Lynn A. Millin Maduro said that no limit would be placed on development proposals to transform the underdeveloped hotel properties that have sat in disrepair for years into sustainable economic development for the territory.
During the community meeting, issues such as beach usage and management, vendor relations and dockage for dinghies were discussed. Government officials pointed to recent investments on Water Island to include a Fire Services pump truck, annual appropriation to Water Island Search and Rescue, overlays on many of the island’s roads and upcoming renovations to the Honeymoon Beach bathroom facilities as described by Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Clair N. Williams.
Additionally, Tax Assessor Ira Mills reminded residents that Water Island properties could not be conveyed without an OLG # assigned by the Lt. Governor’s office and offered assistance; and Adrianne Williams, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, offered several possible suggestions for developing the 60 acres on Water Island for affordable housing under agency’s management.
In closing, de Jongh offered his commitment to receiving input on island development from the residents by stating “If you have solutions to issues or questions that were not somehow addressed, then we would like to hear from you, for hotel development and island management will only succeed with input from those who live in the Water Island environment on a daily basis.”
Also accompanying the governor to answer residents’ questions were Commissioner of Public Works Darryl Smalls and St. Thomas – Water Island Administrator Barbara Petersen.
The announcement of an Expression of Interest for the development of a boutique resort on Water Island can be viewed on the governor’s website at www.GovernordeJongh.com.
