Finally .... the much needed Sports Complex .... Ha?

I'd rather see $30+Million being spent to get us all affordable and reliable electricity.
4 rolling outages last week and I counted 27 outages in a 6 week period between March 15 - Beginning of May in STT.
We aren't even in to our real storm season as yet. Fingers crossed for a non event season.

If they are going ahead with a sports complex, it would be nice if the company being considered had good standing, had previous experience in building such a complex. Why are companies with no track records allowed to be considered for such important and costly
enterprises?

I believe the open bid to all companies qualified came to be to avoid the monopoly that some companies had in different areas. Military, sports facilities and highways in particular. I am with you in that I think there should be better monitoring of qualifications to protect the consumer however, they used that money to fund a study of houseflies having sex. :-X

I am also with you on using the money to lower electrical costs. Most of the time "politician" and "common sense" just don't go in the same sentence. They get to where they are with money therefore they don't worry about costs that are crippling a good percentage of the population, electricity, gas, food, just the stuff we can't live without!*-) The rich people that do care ie Warren Buffet, are too smart to get into politics or perhaps just not power hungry enough. I think the people that get into politics truly wanting to make a difference quickly succumb to the bullying of the good ole boy network.

:$) So sorry, this is be getting OFF the soap box!

Look at who voted to table, and who did not. The STX Source states that Chucky voted NOT to table the bill for GlobalVest; even in the face of multipage expose in the Daily News. This seems very odd to me.

Further, How much did this fiasco cost the taxpayer already? Are we indebted to these individuals for ANY costs- and if so- we should seek some relief via legal channels. The People of the VI need to be fully reimbusred for any and all expenses in connection with this fiasco...

This would be awesome. We could get bigger sporting events and use it for large concerts too. If they legalized weed like they've been talking about, I bet we could bring in a ton of people and really help us out.

Jamison- hate to break it to you but the article in the STT based newspaper effectively blocked STX from getting this project off the ground, thus preserving their monopoly on tourist $$ for the foreseeable future.

The article in the Daily News did a thorough job of picking apart the personal lives of some members of Globevest, but it did miss the point regarding the project. The vote this week was not for the green light on the $30 mil. It was for $5 mil for engineering, feasibility studies, demolition of the existing condemned structure (probably coated in lead based paint and expensive to demo and dispose of safely), etc. If the feasibility study didn't work out, or if the partners in Globevest didn't cough up their $25 million, then the contract was written so that the Sports Complex idea would be thrown out, but Frederiksted still got a new ball park, parking lots, Christmas festival village, and so forth, a plan which has been in the works for years and years already.

With the recent exposé, Globevest probably loses, but so does Frederiksted, which would have gotten something either way, but now probably gets nothing. Oh well, I guess our kids can keep playing in the dirt with sticks and rocks a little longer. That is what I did, and I survived.

Forget the sports complex. Now is the time for a world class water park on St. Croix, located in Fredricksted.
We have the labor force from Hovensa with the engineering background and plumbing skills to make this work. We can include solar/wind for green energy.

Give the tourists and cruise ship passengers another activity. And discount season passes for all legal residents (with valid voter-id - ha).

Call it Seven Flags over St. Croix! 😎

A sports complex, jobs and tourists spending money are all good things ..... if it is legitimate and done correctly. The following is a very good summary of how NOT to develop a project and indicates the mis-steps of the government officials who either had blinders on or hands in someones pocket. The decision to kill this should not have taken this long. What a way to build public trust.

http://cruciansinfocus.com/2012/06/25/theres-something-shady-about-globevest-we-had-no-idea/#more-15283

Why do they need a waterpark. They have the nicest one in the world just off the beach!!

Hubby and I always wondered why no one has built a water park. Very popular in the states and on other islands that have them. Our son loves the ocean and is always happy just to snorkel and look for fish in the ocean but when we visit the states we go to the water park as much as we can. The one we have in Virginia Beach Virginia has water slides, a wave pool, a pool with log rolling and the little kid section is roped off so the babies are safely enclosed away from the big kids. The parents can relax and watch their little ones play safely. There are many lifeguards, (older teenager with lifeguard training) constantly walking around watching each ride and play area. Very safe. In another section of the park they have motor world where older kids and adults can race go carts and still another area with 3 miniature golf games are going on. They recently added a paintball arena.

This park employs many young adults and teenagers for the summer and of course well trained adults to keep the park up and running. It is a huge money makers. They do birthday parties, concerts, have special days for military, special needs children and adults and all sorts of special activities. They don't allow people to bring in food or drink from the outside so they make money off of food sales as well. They also have stores inside the part that sell sunscreen, bathing suits etc.

The water parks here are pricey but they are always packed. They also offer season tickets, (about the cost of two visits).

Recognizing that the cost is high, (huge tourist area here), they also offer reduced price after 4pm so more local families can enjoy the park.

I think it would be a wonderful money maker and entice more tourist with families to visit our beautiful islands.

Just my opinion

Really good idea Islandhops! Do they build these waterparks to withstand hurricanes? Do you know if there are waterparks in any of the other islands? It would be so nice if we could offer something different - we need more inter-island tourism.

Jamison- hate to break it to you but the article in the STT based newspaper effectively blocked STX from getting this project off the ground, thus preserving their monopoly on tourist $$ for the foreseeable future.

The article in the Daily News did a thorough job of picking apart the personal lives of some members of Globevest, but it did miss the point regarding the project. The vote this week was not for the green light on the $30 mil. It was for $5 mil for engineering, feasibility studies, demolition of the existing condemned structure (probably coated in lead based paint and expensive to demo and dispose of safely), etc. If the feasibility study didn't work out, or if the partners in Globevest didn't cough up their $25 million, then the contract was written so that the Sports Complex idea would be thrown out, but Frederiksted still got a new ball park, parking lots, Christmas festival village, and so forth, a plan which has been in the works for years and years already.

With the recent exposé, Globevest probably loses, but so does Frederiksted, which would have gotten something either way, but now probably gets nothing. Oh well, I guess our kids can keep playing in the dirt with sticks and rocks a little longer. That is what I did, and I survived.

Did you really want people coming in to build this complex who had never built one previously and can't manage their personal finances much less the huge amounts of money involved? We all know that just the cost of building a small home and associated problems can be
a nightmare. Can you imagine building such a large complex by people/company with no track record of ever building such or personal fiscal responsibility?

Can you imagine the cost over-run and would we really get a state of the art, fully functional and solidly built complex for STX by GlobeVestVI?

I have no problems with it being built by a vetted entity, tho I would prefer, at this point in time, money be spent on upgrading WAPA before we are all stilling in the dark on a regular basis. Gee, we already do that now!

Did you really want people coming in to build this complex who had never built one previously and can't manage their personal finances much less the huge amounts of money involved?

And don't forget the "Resumé replete with false claims"!

"James K. Sutherland, a principal of GlobeVest V.I., gave the government a bio that inflates his political connections and falsely portrays him as having a close working relationship with a number of famous elected officials."

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/resume-replete-with-false-claims-1.1334547

And don't forget the "Resumé replete with false claims"!

As the internet more and more becomes part of everyone's life it might behoove the VI Government to better utilize it to sift out much of this sort of information which is readily available even if you have only a basic knowledge of how to research. Rodney Miller's (ex CEO of the RLS hospital on STT) false "honorable discharge" from the military came to light only after he'd plundered a huge amount of money from the institution. Senator Donastorg's mail-order degree was outed through internet research; as was Senator Hansen's two (bachelor and master's) degrees which, it turned out, she paid a few hundred dollars each for without doing a lick of work towards them. The "institute of higher learning" she received her degrees from and which she proudly listed on her resumé and hung up in frames in her office had been closed for a few years.

That's only the tip of the iceberg in so many different arenas. I know scores of local employers who hire newbies and don't bother to simply check their past employment references. You don't even have to do an in depth background check to unearth basic lies and sometimes some really BAD stuff but a whole bunch of people just don't bother - and then wonder why they end up with a major problem.

Really good idea Islandhops! Do they build these waterparks to withstand hurricanes? Do you know if there are waterparks in any of the other islands? It would be so nice if we could offer something different - we need more inter-island tourism.

There are 5 water parks in Jamaica. Others on Aruba, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, St. Lucia... and that is just from a quick search. I'm sure if it can be done there it can be done here.

And yes, even though we are surrounded by beach, a water park with some seriously agressive slides is a huge attraction to tourists. Build them from concrete and forget about hurricanes.

Just throwing this out there because I really don't know how one would go about it. Schlitterbahn runs the #1 water park in the country, San Antonio, Texas. They also have another on Galveston Island. I wonder if they were offered some tax incentives if they would consider building one in the VI? Lots of jobs, no cost to the taxpayer.

Good ideas here. Wonder what the best location would be on St Croix. any ideas? rainforest or are they usually closer to the beach? I'd be interested to hear what other people think would be the ideal location.

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/

One nice part of Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is the water comes from the Comal River and is returned to the river. Cool and non-chlorinated.

The primary idea of the Sports Complex was to draw in "sports oriented" tourists that would normally go elsewhere for tournaments, etc.

A water park is not a bad idea as it would add to the attractions for tourists coming to STX. However, it may not create incremental (additional) numbers. IH mentioned that there are plenty of parks on other Caribbean islands, but are they financially doing OK and have they caused an increase in the number of tourists.

Maybe the best first step to vet this idea is a conversation with the VI Tourism Director and then one with Schlitterbahn to find out their criteria for a new installation .... which I think would be mostly economic. Maybe the Dept. of Tourism could get a Fed. Grant to do a study. This recent article provides the names of the players at Tourism.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/tourism-association-hears-update-from-v-i-1.1335603

As our fresh water is limited on STX so I'd say a salt water park would work. To do it simply just put a few slides on the beach in Fredricksted just north of the fort. Walking distance from the cruise ships. Route the road around the old ball park. The whole park could be wide open for all to enjoy so you are not closing off the beach, but you need a temporary wristband or time/dated tattoo to ride the slides, or if you want tube/sled based slides then when you pay you get your own tube/sled for the day. Park closes at sunset (solar power primary source for pumps).

There were plans for a Zip Line at the Cane Bay area. It fell through . I think it was because they could not find backers becasuse we do not have enough cruise ships to support it. Same thing would happen to a water park.

As our fresh water is limited on STX so I'd say a salt water park would work. Park closes at sunset (solar power primary source for pumps).

I don't even know if it's still operating but a seawater park was constructed on STT in, I believe, 2002. Darlan Brin created the project which used both seawater (which was recirculated back into the sea) and solar power.

Zip lines, a water park, sports/ music complex would all greatly help STX to gain more tourism, which we really need.

Doing it all green and being able to label everything ECO would also help a lot.

I think the environmental angle is the strongest one to take right now. First, it's a lower impact to the island, second, it does have a draw.

There are some great things that are green minded already happening on STX and it would be wise to include them.

Zip lines, a water park, sports/ music complex would all greatly help STX to gain more tourism, which we really need.

Doing it all green and being able to label everything ECO would also help a lot.

I think the environmental angle is the strongest one to take right now. First, it's a lower impact to the island, second, it does have a draw.

There are some great things that are green minded already happening on STX and it would be wise to include them.

I don't disagree but I'm not sure of the fiscal practicality of putting the cart before the horse where these tourist attractions are concerned when, as terry pointed out, the tourist numbers both by air and sea can't support them. Tourists aren't going to go choose STX because any of these attractions are in place even though they'll go to them if they're there. In reality, a sports complex is far more fiscally viable if the right deal can be made. STX can also support light industry and I still think a DNA lab (something I've suggested many times over the years) would be an invaluable resource. Labs stateside can't keep up with the ever-increasing demands of DNA testing and, despite what one might believe from TV dramas, the backlog is huge...

I think that's a great idea too OT.

I think we need more to do on this island for tourists to want to come back, instead of hitting another island next time. I know those were some of the things my friends have asked about and what people often say when I meet them at work (restaurant). STX doesn't have as much to keep people coming back. Not for everybody anyway. I think it's more of a fixing the cart, then putting it in front situation. Maybe I'm just off today and want to ride zip lines to the water park. lol