The proposed West Bay Cruise Tender Facility is on hold until the new government decides whether to go forward with the project, Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford said Monday.
Mr. Clifford said one of the reasons the project is on hold is that the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association has expressed some reservations about the idea,
Before making a decision, Mr. Clifford said he plans to meet with FCCA officials this weekend when he travels to the United States for a tourism conference.
‘The West Bay facility will be discussed with the FCCA, who have some navigational concerns for that location. If it goes ahead, we want to make sure they’re fully on board.’
In 2003, the FCCA agreed to fund the repayment of a US$26 million loan to build the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal Facility in George Town and the West Bay dock as well.
A pet project of former Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, McKeeva Bush, the West Bay cruise tendering facility was originally slated for completion in late 2004.
Construction was delayed first by land acquisition problems and then by Hurricane Ivan.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was conducted 9 May, two days before the General Elections that put the opposition People’s Progressive Movement in power.
Now the entire project might not happen.
Mr. Clifford, said the West Bay dock has also raised some environmental concerns.
‘A lot of Cayman’s best dive sites are located in the area,’ the new Minister of Environment pointed out.
Mr. Clifford said he would also discuss the possibility of cruise ship berthing facilities in George Town with the FCCA.
‘I think berthing facilities is the direction we should be heading,’ he said, noting that some cruise lines have already expressed an interest of backing a project to build berthing facilities.
‘If cruise ship companies are willing to get involved, I think we should entertain the possibility of cruise ship berthing,’ he said.
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