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Senator Ronald E. Russell is urging the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to move immediately to ensure that the dredging of the Frederiksted Pier can begin expeditiously.
"I want the Coastal Zone Management Committee of St. Croix to call a meeting at once to waive the permit process and allow the dredging of the pier to move forward to accommodate the Virgin Islands Port Authority's request to make the pier available for larger cruise ships," Senator Russell said.
Senator Russell said that during a meeting last month that all senators had with representatives from the cruise industry, it was mentioned that in October the government was made aware of the need to dredge the pier so that the new class of larger cruise ships could bunker in St. Croix.
He said he was alarmed during Wednesday's Committee on the Whole hearing when Port Authority Executive Director Darlan Brin blamed the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Coastal Zone Committee for delaying the dredging and prohibiting increased bunkering on St. Croix. He promised to work closely with the concerned agencies to make certain that progress can occur on the dredging project.
"Since October, the government has not moved this matter forward with the same speed as other projects on St. Thomas, take for example the Yacht Haven matter, "Senator Russell said. "The people of St. Croix need this project to be moved immediately. It is an integral part of the revitalization of the St. Croix economy."