Opposition calls for Cayman cruise port referendum
Cayman cruise ship passengers visit George Town
(CNS): The opposition has announced plans to spearhead a campaign to collect enough signatures from registered voters to trigger a referendum on the proposed development of cruise berthing facilities in the George Town Harbour. Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller told CNS Tuesday that he believes the majority of Caymanians do not support this costly and risky project but a small vocal group has been driving the agenda, which is not in the best interests of the country. Miller said it was time to put the project on hold until the people can have their democratic say.
Miller has continued to raise more concerns in recent months as his efforts to find out the details of the proposed development, including anticipated costs and the issues surrounding the final design, have failed to shed any light on exactly what the country will be getting, how much it will cost and precisely what the various parties involved are actually bidding on.
The opposition leader has become increasingly alarmed about the lack of transparency and the growing evidence that the arguments and justification for the project are misleading and unfounded.
“Right now there is a vacuum of information, when at this point you would expect government would be able to tell us important details,” he said.
As well as questions about cost and environmental risks, not least the issues relating to Seven Mile Beach, Miller queried what exactly is the final design government has decided on.
“Is there a final design that all of the pre-qualified bidders are competing on or are they all suggesting their own?” the opposition leader asked. “The public does not know what it is getting,” he said, as he railed against the secrecy surrounding what would be the biggest ever capital expenditure project in Cayman’s history.
Miller also questioned the justifications government has given for the piers and claims about why Cayman needs them. He said that from the beginning, government has claimed that the smaller cruise ships were going to disappear from the Caribbean, which he said was plainly not true. He also debunked the claim that the new class of mega-cruise ships were unable to tender because the cruise industry has made it clear that this is not the case. He said the ships are tendering in several destinations, including their own private islands.
Claims that peers will facilitate tour operators to sell more trips are also false, he said, because offering berthing facilities to cruise lines will not alter the timetable for when the ships come and go, as this relates to the port calls and the on-board casino opening hours.
“There is no clear justification for this project. Government’s own statistics make it clear that every year the cruise industry is growing and there are no projected reductions on the horizon,” he said. “Government has been saying for some 20 years that the ships will not come unless we build piers, but they are still coming in ever greater numbers.”
The opposition leader said he and his team still have concerns about the many known risks to the marine environment and Seven Mile Beach, as well as the unknowns. “We don’t know where the piers are going to be. Will they be in or out of water, as we know there is a risk to the current and by extension the beach?” he added.
Miller also questioned the approach government has taken to the tendering process and asked where the truth lies. Nine bidders were said to be qualified but now maybe three or five are being invited to actually submit bids, and the opposition leader called on government to explain how all this has come about.
Following a recent FOI request submitted by CNS regarding the cruise project, a slither of information was released last week indicating that five bidders from the original nine who were pre-qualified had been invited to “submit outline solutions”.
This is at odds with other sources who told CNS that government is in talks with just three possible bidders. But whatever the current considerations, none of these bidders have been identified, and no details of the basis for the bids or what process is being followed have been revealed.
“We don’t even know the methodology being used for this tender and what we do know doesn’t make any sense,” Miller said, as he questioned how the procurement committee would be able to properly evaluate bids.
The opposition leader also asked about the finances and queried how much of an impact there would be on the cargo port if the project is to be financed entirely from cruise passenger fees.
“How much of the subsidy from cruise passenger that goes to the cargo operations will be impacted?” Miller asked, as he raised the real concern that diverting that subsidy could fuel a cost of living increase if the port operations and fees increase.
He further warned that the impact on the local infrastructure of 2.3 million passengers a year would be huge. On busy days there would be no tendering process to control the influx of passengers, he noted, compounding the overcrowding and adding to the challenges of managing the numbers.
Miller said that, instead of taking on the massive and unpopular risk of the berthing project, he wanted to see government invest in improvements to the current situation, buying bigger and more modern tenders, and improving the onshore experience at both the George Town terminals and at Spotts.
With so many unanswered questions, the opposition members are working on formulating a motion to force a debate in the Legislative Assembly and to get the questions that government has avoided answering into the public domain.
“We need a debate on floor of the Assembly to force government to unveil this information,” Miller said.
In the meantime, plans are now underway to begin the campaign to collect signatures. A people-initiated referendum needs 25% of the electorate to sign. With an electoral count, as of 1 April this year, of 21,183, this is 5296 registered voters, which Miller believes will not be difficult to get.
The cruise port project is not in the best interest of the Caymanian people, Miller said, and it poses a catalog of risks in order to benefit what he described as an elite few merchants and a handful of tour operators.
When the previous PPM-led administration took up this project there was a public consultation, in which the 500 people who took part came down a clear three to one against. Since then, as well as concerns about the costs and environmental risks, there has been growing concern that the number of passengers needed to justify the project are too great for both the natural and man-made infrastructure on Grand Cayman to sustain.
Put all that together with the reality that the overnight tourism product, which is growing at an unprecedented rate and is now far more lucrative than the cruise sector, will also be undermined by the piers, government could now have a real fight on its hands to sustain this controversial project.
I want to know where these damn idiots plan to get money from after Finance sector starts to go down. We better invest HEAVILY in tourism because soon we a one trick pony.
Look, not only do we need this damn dock but we need SERIOUSLY review where our revenue buckets are going to pick up the slack for finance sector going forward. This will require some diversification of revenues and I don’t mean taxes.
What we should do and this helps across the board is Casinos. If we open Cayman up to Casinos we can restructure the Cayman Tourism calendar by opening Cayman up to tournaments in our traditional low season Jun to Oct allowing our tourism sector to be more fluid.
High Rollers tend to have good dollars and may invest in Cayman in terms of homes and businesses. They will probably bring families down not just during tournaments but on vacations also.
Hotels will have to modify their structure to accommodate a casino which would help the construction industry along with new resorts.
CIG could make money in numerous ways from increase construction materials to building permits, licenses, revenue draws, increase in food, etc.
Many more jobs.
Now let’s think about the cons to this that I have heard.
1. Locals gambling away their mortgage payments – Simple. Don’t let them gamble or make it that only the rick can gamble by making them pay a fee to gamble that’s too much for locals.
2. Mafia or bad characters – This just takes research. Don’t allow organisations who are or have been investigated for violations.
Done and done.
I think if done correct this could do some good for enhancing our tourism product. It would help level the tourism season allowing for hotels to retain staff year round rather than bringing in seasonal staff.
I cannot disagree with your misguided views in strong enough terms.
Gambling brings a sleaze factor that is unwanted in Cayman. Your simply say no to gambling answer is naive in the extreme.
We are having massive cruise ship visitors numbers without the dock saving that money.
Finance sector permits and company fees bring in $800mln a year. ALL of Tourism sector brings CIG just $40-50mln – further reduced to a trickle, if they let a slippery operator recoop their costs on the port. We are on a dangerously wrong footing if there are any Ministers still talking about cruise piers.
Bring it on the referendum because the port is all about money and greed again.
I have missed the kirkbots
Ezzard is trying hard to be a Hero. Did anyone notice that there has not much snorkeling or diving in George Town Harbour in years? Perhaps the large anchors and ships have already damaged the most beautiful parts. Every time the Government has a large project on the agenda the small minded people gets upset. No wonder they don/t have two cents to rub together.
This cruise port is a terrible idea but I’m willing to support it just to piss off Ezzie and Who.
That tells us all we need to know about you.
And thank you for proving my theory of a sizeable portion of CNS contributors deciding what side of an issue to support just to be contrary to the perceived positions of the majority of Caymanians.
This also diminishes your potential to be regarded as a meaningful voice in all local matters.
Do yourself a favour and look up the following word; integration.
– Who
Congrats to CNS and Mr. Miller lets hope that groups like Save Cayman and the Ladies come in and support you. But don’t expect any positive support from the compass and the chamber of commerce since they are already gone way up north in the land of k.my.ass.
I absolutely cannot fathom why something so massive, controversial and damaging would not be put to a referendum. This is NOT a decision to be made behind closed doors. There is way too much at stake and too much corruption to be had.
Especially when the ONLY thing ANY money should be going towards is the DUMP!!!
Well, beside educating our children, there’s that too.
Can anyone please tell me why the government won’t finish the high school ? A disgrace, I even forgot how many years it been there . Now we’re talking another major project .greed, greed ,I don’t call this progress ,.
Because many of them never finished high school themselves.
WHERE DO WE ALL SIGN??????????????
Referendum for Registered voters not the whole world
Hope this will eliminate all the hurry come up recent arrivals and those who left to live abroad from telling us what to do.
If God had wanted a pier to be there, then He would have put one there. Building piers is against God.
Right then. Glad we cleared that one up logically and with no fuss. He didn’t put computers here either, so kinda wondering why you aren’t in your cave trying to find clean water to drink and making clothes out of iguana skins?
BeCAUSE……. ummmmmm, they’re really, really difficult to skin. Trust me on this. Besides, it takes nearly 217 of them just to make a simple cloak (no hood!). Disastrous.
p.s. this is another example — along with the one you responded to — of sarcasm and frivolity. It’s okay. It’s hard to tell sometimes without smilies to indicate intent.
You don’t understand humor, do you?
Brilliant! No more computers, smart phones, electronic devices, then people begin noticing each other again, noticing the environment, giving you your undivided attention … these man made inventions has made us into zombies!
May we all find God and go back to nature. Sounds great ?
11;08 like how he put the airport
If a referendum = a public holiday, I am all for it.
However, it seems to be a very expensive exercise for a predictable outcome.
Put the idea on hold and vote on it during the next elections?
That’s what we did before the last election.
Mr. Premier, Do what you were elected to do and build a first world port. Please don’t let you agenda be hijacked by these eco whackjobs
agreed. I don’t agree with the dart tunnels. but the port needs to be built
Infact, I think a port in GT. As well as move the container port to spots. And build a secondary cruise ship port in bodden town. It would help create jobs and god knows bodden town and it’s people need jobs.
It would reduce crime.
And reduce the rat race that is GT in the mornings and in the evenings. Eventually once more jobs move to bodden town due to a secondary cruise birth. Since many people would no longer need to travel to GT to work.
in all likelihood, it would be easier and make more economic sense to move Bodden Town to GT
Your master plan is brilliant , except a container terminal in Spotts and a (2nd) Cruise ship port in B.T. is on the exposed southern coast , which has ocean swell conditions not suitable for either anchoring or dock berthing, but you were doing so well there.
Congrats man! You just won the worst idea ever award!
So the people that did the tendering would lose jobs so will they get first pick at these jobs Bodden Town would get?
Great plan, hopefully your cheque to pay for it all is in the post?
A cruise ship terminal in Bodden Town….. that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Bigger joke the the premier
In the 1920-30s there was a wharf in Bodden Town and if your read history it was the first Capital. Not saying it is the best location for an cruise port.
Consider this: When there are cruise ships in port, they are ferried by the tenders, and that allows the sheer number of visitors to come ashore in a regulated manner.
Just think of the impact to the “rat race” if we had a finger pier that allowed mass disembarkment. We already don’t have the services to support the amounts of people who come ashore; imagine if they were able to do so more rapidly.
I am in favor of putting the pier money into enhancing businesses, several restrooms, etc. George Town could really shine and that would put dollars into Caymanian pockets..
Didn’t you read and understand what Mr Miller said , we don’t want and need that cruise ship pier that would only benefit a few people, and do more damages than good . Vote in the referendum and forget about Alden’s agenda , because his agenda is not going to benefit you .
Anonymous 9:40am , I hope you’re not the Premier advisor .
Fix the dump and the garbage pick up issue first. First world countries know how to solve these problems.
LETS GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT.
Admitting that none of our MLAs are smart enough to negotiate on our behalf, is half the battle.
Anonymous 9:31 am , then why do we keep voting them back in to represent us ? If we could just replace them , and then all the problems would be taken care of ,
Eligibility requirements need to be changed, but there don’t seem to be enough voters compelled enough to figure that out and mobilize a voter-led initiative. Part of that is pervasive apathy, part fear of retribution, and a spoonful of jury-phobia. Consequently, majority watch passively from the sidelines for 4 years, calling into radio shows and typing out these comments. Voters have all the power in a democracy, yet here, there are still no Standards in Public Life…ask yourself how can that be? No true leadership, just bullies, and run-of-the-mill Caribbean-grade kleptocrats.
hey…what about the great job foolio did???….oh, ok.
Based on past performance, I’m not confident the voters of Caymanian are smart enough to navigate another Referendum where the politicians can’t be trusted to ask an unloaded question.
It just needs to be a hard “no” based on the hard economic evidence at hand (ie. very little), and the predictably-disregarded environmental, heritage, social, marine engineering hazards/liability/maintenance, and capacity ramification data that is already outlined in past third-party reports.
Yes to a referendum, let the people decide…if the support is really there, then it will happen…if the support is not really there, then the current Govt needs booting out based on the seemingly relentless, singular vision to force thru this development shrouded in extraordinary secrecy
If this thing goes to a referendum there will be no port, it’s as simple as that! Bring on the referendum!!
The most unsettling thing about this debate is the fact that we’re still in a situation where nobody, and that includes all the journalists working here, has obtained any real feedback on this project from any of the cruise lines. The nearest we seem to have got was a comment from the FCCA but very bluntly they don’t count – it’s the people who actually own and operate the vessels we need to hear from.
My big concern here is that the cruise ships are becoming huge floating, self-contained resorts that don’t need stop-offs. If you check some of the current Caribbean itineraries you’ll find that the passengers are spending over 70% of a one-week cruise at sea – we’re actually creeping towards a situation where cruise lines might take this one step further and stop island-hopping completely. From an operational point of view that makes sense because the vessels operate most economically running at a constant cruising speed and the operators wouldn’t be sharing the proceeds of any activities with anyone else or paying landing fees.
The cruise lines need to give input to this because without that we’re back to the old, ‘If we build it, they will come,’ concept and based on my experience of the hospitality industry that’s a recipe for bankruptcy.
In order to justify the dock it seems we need one of two things –
1. Substantial outside funding so if it does go belly up the entire financial burden doesn’t fall on the people of these islands or;
2. A cast-iron guarantee that the various cruise lines will continue to use the facility for at least as long as it takes CIG to cover the building and upkeep costs.
The facts are nobody seems to be rushing in with funding and there is no way on this planet that any of the cruise line will risk committing to a potentially open-ended obligation like that, their shareholders simply won’t let them.
Do we need a dock? Without input from the cruise lines nobody knows and anybody who claims otherwise is delusional.
There are only a handful of liners with an order book for the massive tonnage ships Moses is frantic to accommodate. Of those on the books, few are operating in Western Caribbean or destined for our hemisphere. So our Cabinet is madly rushing ahead and over-promising to satisfy one of these bullying liners (and probably SVP, Giora Isreal of Carnival). If we only have room for four boats, turning away one or two other boats we would normally get, and there may only be one or two mega-tonnage per week AND we are giving the landing fees to the builder of the facility for 5-10 years, how does the CIG make more money than they are currently? Our passenger arrivals could very likely go DOWN as a function of constrained docking capacity with no guarantees on arrivals. It’s dumb from every angle.
Can someone tell me if the Port is put into place where will the Cruise Passengers will go to dive as well as the view of our beautiful emerald waters that we as Caymanians don’t even go see anymore on a daily basis?
I am not against progress just choices that we as a people have to live with when they are done. Think Cayman. the solution is there in front of you.
Who do you see diving in the path of tenders and cargo ships?
you obviously don’t understand the environmental impact something the size of the port will have on the coastline….currents change when something that huge is put in the middle of the ocean.
I was out in my boat the other day and heard one of the dive companies calling port authority to get permission to dive the balboa. Didn’t pay attention to who, but at least one of the companies uses the port. And i’m sure I’ve seen snorkel boats and people in the water when looking out by the cove where they clean the fish. So the harbour area that would be lost to the dredging is obviously being used by some people to make money.
Never mind Cayman, the whole world needs to move away from the cruise industry. Do a little bit of research and you’ll find it is among the most environmentally harmful industries in the world.
Among the most? You mean THE most harmful industry in the world.
ok…so now tell me what the dive industry contributes to the environment?
Please just let Mr Dart & the Chinese people build our wonderful port so we can have all these new ships arrive. Stop all this negative talk. Three cheers for our unity team government who will get the job done!
I don’t just think you drank the Kool Aid, I think you are a dealer….
Dear Government
Please enlighten the public and provide clarity on the following questions:
1. Will the public be informed of the full details before you commit to the final agreement in Sept 2018?
2. (a) When will the public be able to review details?
(b) Is it a secret?
(c) Why are details being treated as a secret?
3. How will the project be financed? Cruise lines will not pay for the cargo expansion component.
4. Has the government updated the Outline Business Case given the new design and financing projections?
5. Will the results of the new Environmental Impact Assessmebt be made public? If so, when and how will the information be shared?
6. How will Cayman accommodate the 2.3-3million Cruise passengers per year?
7. Is new infrastructure being put in place along the SMB to accommodate the volume that wish to soak up the world famous beach and it’s pristine waters?
8. Where is the transparency that was promised and the Progressives campaigned on in May 2017?
9. What exactly do you have to hide? Is the deal that bad?
Unfortunately, the attitude and behavior being displayed by the government, Cabinet Members , caucus and ministry officials regarding the promised public consultation and information sharing phase with relevant details suggests that there are significant issues that may embarrass the government. The question to be asked then is why are you committed to moving forward at any costs? In fact your collective actions are reminiscent of the conduct of the previous UDP administration during its covert negotiations with China Harbour Group in 2011-12.
Sincerely,
A. Caymanian
Excellent post.
All the questions that Moses will answer when he comes back down from Mount Bot.
This needs to go a referendum.
Let’s see the confirmation from Cruise Lines that they’ll stop calling in Cayman unless we build a few piers (they won’t, the passengers demand Cayman)
Let’s really see the average $ spend per passenger – its all made up. the only way to truly know is to ask Kirk/Dart/Tortuga/etc for their Gross Sales and extrapolate.
Where is the infrastructure to cope with more passengers for longer? More importantly, where are they going? Already, with the Dart purchase of large swathes of Cayman and smaller developers locking up prime lands, we’re out of beach….the net result is cruise passengers (and ourselves) being forced to move infront of condo developments and hotel resorts where they systematically tell them/us to leave
How about some transparency? How about someone in CIG having the cojones to stand up and say enough with the madness…let’s redirect the funds to education/training/jobs/maybe a new prison/old persons health care/…..the dump!
the port is a WANT, not a NEED…….NEEDS must, WANTS bust.
I’ll never forget taking my family to NYC and staying at the Millennium Hilton and learning that close to 200,000 people visited the WTC per day. The 2 towers stood 110 stories and accomodated 50,000 workers each. It was sitting on 14.6 acres of land.
I use these statistics to show that George Town can easily hold 25,000 people moving around in a day. Camana Bay is on 26 acres of land. The new event called Kaboo will have 11,000 per day walking around on that new property being developed for a three day visit. People will be transported all over the island to see and play Botanic park, Crystal Cave, Pedro st. James, Turtles centre, Stingray City,@ dolphin areas the beaches from Bodden Town to 7 mile Beach to new Beaches being created in West Bay, Barkers. Wow, that was long breath. Get over it, we building a cruise ship facility. Its for us the Cayman people.
Should be for the Caymanian people.
If this was a good idea and value the government should be proud to share the details with the people.
The lack of transparency confirms that Cayman is going to get fleeced by Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines when this deal is signed by short sighted politicians who are incapable of thinking long term they worry about monuments, political legacy and getting re-elected. SMH
How many, yourself excluded, want George Town to look like Manhattan?
Because you can, doesn’t mean you should. When tourism becomes an invasion? Besides, you “don’t want to be the richest corpse in a cemetery” as a character from the movie Alphie said.
A jackass who pretends to be a lion should keep his mouth shut. There is no comparrison between GCM & the WTC. For one, GT isn’t 110 stories high & we don’t have a subway (not the sandwich shop).
Govt doesn’t need to buy / run tenders either. The current tender operator is more than capable of this. The reason we don’t have larger more modern tenders is a direct result of the uncertainty in the industry due to Govt ineptitude.
Govt job is to make policy & regulate industry, they should not be getting involved in the business sector.
We are (supposedly) a democracy, therefore I support Ezzard wholeheartedly in this matter. PUT THIS TO A VOTE & LET THE PEOPLE (majority) DECIDE.
Many millions live in NYC, and only a fraction of that in Cayman. We don’t need skyscrapers and any attempt to compare Cayman to NYC is an exercise in the greatest stupidity I have seen in a long while.
This pier has been a white elephant since Charles Clifford announced it more than a decade ago.
The premise for the pier was that without it we would loose the cruise ship business.
That premise has been proven incorrect.
The country cannot afford this project and the government is out of touch with the people on this issue.
Resolve the issue with a referendum.
I was a seaman for 7 years, why do you people think a port for plane is ok but not a ship?
What????
The airport and pier are apples and oranges. The prime jewel of Cayman is the beach along 7 mile. The environmental risks of the pier remain uncertain. If there was an equal environmental risk to the airport you would have similar concern from many with that project. The leeward shore along 7 mile is usually safe anchorage and passengers can disembark using tenders with Caymanian captains and crew. There is no other way to get stayover guests other than by the use of an airport. So there is a difference between the two.
Trees surrounding the area of the airport are not as effected by the building of it as Coral and fish are. Nor are they as affected by the air traffic. That and trees grow back quicker than coral. Coral needs a much more delicate balance in their ecosystem. We will be destroying the thing people come here to see.
caymanian seamen…..zzzzzzzzz
Even before that. I recall a public meeting by Thomas Jefferson pushing a GT Port cruise development. It went nowhere because, like now, people se through the proposal to the lack of benefit behind it.
Ezzard will do anything for a headline and a little attention
Where are all the oppositions? Only Ezzard has the back bone to take on these special interest groups?
Ezzard is leader of the Opposition he is speaking for the other opposition member, same as when Alden speaks for the Government
Oh, you poor people. Wake up. This is just a political shit show. The entire Legislative Assembly are on the same page. If you think we actually have an “opposition” you are dreaming.
We have sycophants in waiting, yes, but opposition, no.
Loads of money will pour out and those that really need it will get nothing.
Isn’t this the way of Cayman? I am just waiting for the real Caymanians to wake up. Now that will be fun.
And lords will ,ye got mine too. A caymanians over sixty
Oh don’t be silly. This is just the mandatory divide and conquer polarization tactics from the connected folk in Cayman in cahoots with the connected folk in the UK.
I would not normally waste any keystrokes on this, but this Punch and Judy show is hilarious.
There has to be some real news today, surely?
SMB stands to disappear or diminish significantly because of this project and dredging why this massive risk is being overlooked by the Pro-Pier Crew blows my mind.
yes but only when we know all the facts and when an eia has been completed….
if the pro-port people ares so confident in their project they have nothing to fear in a referendum….
Massive public interest in the cruise port not being developed, yet here we are. What good is living in a democratic country when our elect leaders can overthrow public interest? Tyranny if I’ve ever seen it. Time to see what the new gov is made of, are you a man or mouse, will you put your foot down or sell us out like all the rest. Mr. Gov, your move.
Where is the transparency?
Why are Moses and Alden being so secretive?
What exactly do they have to hide?
This must be a terrible deal for the Cayman’s given the actions of the ppm
This is why the UK is coming down hard on us now. Our gocernment tries to get away with murder.
Nothing to hide.
How can they tell you what it is going to cost until the final bids are in…?
And this time there won’t be any commissions allegations because it is going through the CTC.
Thank you Opposition members for standing up against the blatant lies and greed of a few duty free merchants and politicians they control. This project will be the ruination of Cayman and become the financial albatross that chokes the government and Caymanian people. The unity team should be ashamed and must all be voted out of office.
Vote NO!
Great motion – and sounds a bit familiar 😉
My signature is as good as signed.
– Who
https://caymannewsservice.com/2018/04/cruise-project-progresses-secrecy/
“Anonymous says:
16/04/2018 at 4:20 pm
Cayman’s government really has some nerve to be secretly plowing ahead with a project that not only has very little support from the majority of the population, but also carries the potential to sink the country into an economic blackhole.
It is utterly disgusting.
At a minimum, projects of this size, risk, expense, and sensitivity should be put to a national referendum.
In fact, if I was an elected leader I would insist on it.
Only a dangerously inflated ego would disagree.
– Whodatis
*It is clear our government members are reluctant to state their position on whether they believe we should build the CBF or not, therefore, we ought to switch the question to whether they believe the decision should go to a referendum.
That will immediately let me know who deserves to be a trusted elected official and who does not.”
Although I agree with a referendum on this issue your presentation and self aggrandizement failed miserably.
I think they are afraid that if the public really knew the costs they would be up in arms.
Hear hear! We just had the best tourism year ever and the proof is in the pudding. How our greedy politicians can get away with this is simply beyond reason. Ask the man on the street and we do not want to celebrate South Sound looking like South Beach (and no, the jobs are not going to locals; nor are the profits?) So yes, please send this to a vote and hear us loud and clear= NO port.
What amazes me is that we can rally the entire country within 3 weeks to save Smith Cove from one condo complex (planned on a side-lot not in use for decades) including that the planning request was NOT to erode jumping rock, but yet we cannot stand up to our greedy contractors who want to “move the reef?” huh?….I hope Save the Cove goes door to door for signatures. Lets get this to a vote.
Ask any stay-over tourist $$$ and they don’t like to shop in George Town when we have 5 ships in town either. We need planned hotel growth, not a port.
The 3rd arm of our economy should NOT be “construction” as it is a harsh lesson learned, we only have so much land, only the rich developers and real estate moguls make a profit, get “concessions” which steal from the public’s pockets and we (voters) should not let one generation’s greed doom our children’s future.
No Port. Go to a vote!
first we need the courage to replace ANONYMOUS with our name
You have my signature@