In a Labor Day statement Gov. Charles Turnbull said that despite the territory’s ailing financial situation, his administration "intends to grow the economy and improve the condition of labor."
Turnbull said government-sponsored capital improvement projects along with private sector initiatives will be a major part of expanding the economy. He said the projects will create new jobs, businesses and a growth in revenue that will help the territory deal with its debt, estimated to be more than $1 billion.
Turnbull said growth would also help the government meet its commitments to government employees. The government owes workers more than $200 million in retroactive pay.
The territory-wide capital projects include:
- Public Sector
- In October, the Christiansted Boardwalk project begins with a $5 million two-phase project to extend the walk from King’s Alley west to the Holger Danske Hotel.
- Almost $5 million to pave and rebuild the South Shore Road on St. Croix in order to serve the new Divi Hotel when it opens later this year.
- The completion of the Government House renovation in Christiansted, scheduled to be completed later this year.
- The anticipated start of the Christiansted bypass within a year, along with other federal highway projects.
- Starting the bidding process for the construction of government complexes on St. Thomas and in Christiansted and Frederiksted.
- An integrated solid waste management facility will go to bid in a week.
- Flood control projects worth $24 million in Williams Delight and Mon Bijou on St. Croix and Savan Gut, Sub Base and Lindbergh Bay on St. Thomas are slated to begin within a year.
- The start of construction on the $25 million Mangrove Lagoon Sewage Treatment plant on St. Thomas. Work is ongoing for a plant on St. John.
Private Sector - Tropical Shipping will begin constructing a $1 million regional office complex.
- The Ritz Carlton Hotel chain will start a $75 million project. The hotel is also committed to spending an additional $5 million in advertising and marketing.
- Construction of the $62 million Carifest Theme Park at the WICO dock will begin later this year.
- Lime Tree Hotel will undergo a $2 million interior modernization.
"With these construction projects on schedule," Turnbull said, "we anticipate that they will jump start financial recovery and get our economy moving again."
Turnbull cautioned, however, that the territory still faces hard times. He said tough decisions with regard to labor and other sectors of the community are ahead.
