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On completion of the cruise pier and land side development in Road Town, local entertainers will also reap benefits.

At a public meeting held on Wednesday, June 27, where the proposed $75M public/private partnership development was unveiled to the community, Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool said they will create an entertainment section in the park where local entertainers will perform for visitors.

The development is referred to as the Tortola Pier Park and the investment comes from IDEA and its parent company, US-Based United Infrastructure Group (UIG).

"Think of Disney Cruise Line for example, the people performing there are paid; it's a regular job 365 days a year. We are going to create a regular job in the park here on a regular basis for a group of entertainers who will be performing a festival type presentation on a daily basis. The mocko jumbie, the costume presentation, heritage dancers kind of group, steel bands and different type of things. So in other words, we are creating a show in the village for the passengers who come; they must not just be walking around. So that is a business itself," he told residents.

The Minister said that entertainers will be able to generate income from the activities.

"It has a very long term and very good effect because it is a new type of business that can be generated in the Territory on a sustainable basis; that is the entertainment business in a park," he stated.

Hon. Vanterpool also explained that as part of the proposed project, there will be spaces created for local business men and women to display and sell many things including arts and crafts.

"We are also looking to secure a minimum of Twenty five (25), 500 square foot shops for our local people to have at a discounted rate...Encourage shops that do local crafts, local jewelry...We also want to encourage guys with a cart selling coconuts...Those kind of things," the Minister said.