CIG cuts deal for port with cruise lines
Cruise ship and tender in George Town Harbour
(CNS): Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Corporation have both made financial commitments towards the Cayman Islands’ controversial cruise berthing project, government has revealed. The tourism ministry said it is now in a position to issue the final tender documents to the shortlisted bidders, only one of which is partnered with the two cruise lines. Officials said that the financing commitment will be provided from the cruise lines in partnership with the preferred bidder and the agreement will be included in the invitation to submit final tenders that will be sent to all three remaining bidders.
“I am very pleased with the progress being made to move the procurement process for this project steadily ahead,” said Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell in a release on Sunday about the deal, reportedly signed on Tuesday.
“Formalising this agreement represents the achievement of a major milestone and is a great example of a public private partnership working for the benefit of the country. While the cruise lines had verbally confirmed their willingness to finance the CBF project, having signed agreements in place takes that commitment to another level,” he added.
The three shortlisted bidders will now be expected to submit their final bids by the end of the first quarter of 2019 and the winning bidder will be announced shortly after that, the ministry stated. Once the preferred bidder has been approved by the Public Procurement Committee, they will be contractually obligated to undertake a number of activities, such as conducting a geotechnical survey and submitting a coral relocation plan, a dredge management plan and an environmental management plan, according to the press release.
The Environmental Statement and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will also be updated and submitted to the Environmental Assessment Board and will then go out for public consultation as part of the EIA process.
The announcement that the two cruise lines had agreed to part finance the project was first revealed by Premier Alden McLaughlin on Friday evening at the event marking the arrival of the first of Cayman Airways’ four new aircraft, when he said that no public money would be required to build the piers.
“This represents a huge vote of confidence in the Cayman Islands and in the viability of this project,” McLaughlin told the audience gathered to welcome the Boeing 737 Max 8, an investment made to help continue the islands’ historic overnight tourism success, which many people believe will be threatened by the decision to build the cruise berthing facility.
But McLaughlin remained undeterred by the risks of undermining the lucrative stay-over side of the tourism sector, even though a large section of the community remains unconvinced of the justification for the cruise port.
Describing the deal with the cruise lines as a “very significant milestone on the critical path towards the delivery of the new port facilities that this country needs to secure its economic future”, the premier pointed to the figures by PricewaterhouseCoopers in the outline business case to support the project.
“There is no future in doing nothing,” he said. “But in building the cruise piers the experts at PwC have told us that we can expect a net economic benefit of some $245 million plus the creation of hundreds of jobs during and after construction.”
Those figures remain controversial because the predictions are based on unsupported data and assumptions, in particular the claims about passenger spend. Despite the numerous unresolved issues, not least the simple logistics of where all of the passengers needed to cover the costs will go once they get here, McLaughlin said that securing the funding and active involvement of the cruise companies was crucial to the sustainability of the project.
“It is important to our many merchants, large and small, to the hundreds of people who they employ, to our taxi and tour operators, and to many, many Caymanians who make a living directly or indirectly from cruise tourism,” he said.
However, there are still many questions about the number of locally owned businesses and Caymanians employed that depend solely on the cruise side of tourism, as many of the jobs are held by permit holders and many are also equally dependent on the overnight business. McLaughlin also failed to spell out the details of the “hundreds of jobs” that would be created after construction.
One of those many other unanswered questions is how many jobs and businesses will be lost in George Town as a result of the destruction of the underwater attractions in the harbour. The devastating impact that this project will have on the marine environment and the jobs and businesses at risk were also dismissed by the premier, who said that the redesign would help mitigate the destruction of marine life.
Recent revelations, however, have shown that the projected reef destruction under the new design is only 7% less when compared to the first drawings. In addition, the problems of silt and sediment killing reefs during and after construction have not been addressed.
“I respect the views of those who argue that no economic benefit can outweigh their environmental concerns,” McLaughlin said, before making it clear he did not consider the environmental impact a good enough reason to reconsider the project.
“But whilst I respect their viewpoint, this is not a position that a responsible government can take. We acknowledge that there will be environmental impact, and while we are redesigning the project to minimise that damage, there is no way that we can build a new cruise and enhanced cargo port without some impact.”
The premier said it came down to a question of judgement. “Do the benefits outweigh the costs?” he asked rhetorically and stated that the PwC prediction was the justification.
“In my judgement and that of my government, $245 million of net economic benefit, 500 construction jobs and then decades of increasing employment and business opportunities for Caymanians in the tourism industry definitely outweigh the inevitable environmental costs. At a time when huge economic threats are looming, we cannot and must not turn our backs on what in our view is a clear and convincing case for the benefits the cruise berthing and cargo port will bring,” he added.
The premier said he had kept the promise to structure the financing of the project in such a way as to minimise any risk to the country’s finances. Now, with this latest agreement, that risk was all on the cruise lines and the government will do all that it can to mitigate the environmental impact of the project, he said. But any proposals to mitigate the loss of reefs and wrecks that the project will cause will be down to the winning bidder.
“It is now essential that we get on with it and deliver this critically important project,” he said. “The cruise berthing and cargo enhancement project, like the new CAL airline fleet, or the upgrading of our airports, is an important part of moving Cayman forward and preparing us for the future.”
McLaughlin made no mention of the petition for a people-initiated referendum, which has been circulating for the last three months and CNS understands is almost ready to be handed to the Elections Office for verification. Regardless of the government’s plans, if the petition is certified to have the necessary 5,282 signatures from legitimate registered voters, the government is constitutionally obligated to hold a referendum.
See the premier’s statement in full here and the MoT press releases in the CNS Library.
Category: development, Government Finance, Local News, Politics
The Unity coalition government has set up our Islands for success long into the future, new airport, new seaport, new development and tourism plans, great going.
This government has done more to advance our country than any other in decades. Awesome job keep up the progress
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/cruises/virgin-voyages-build-new-cruise-13668190
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/26/cruise-ship-captain-fined-100000-for-using-dirty-fuel
Can we have a vote of no confidence or have a referendum or someway to vote to choose or not to have this port? Once we can vote, I would encourage every single Caymanian to register to vote and vote no. For the future of Cayman we cannot destroy the one thing tourists come for. Without the fish and coral, Cayman really has nothing to offer.
Best news of 2018!!!
PWC’s “best case” of $245m, authored in 2015 using info fed from the ESO, assumed fleets of 6000 passenger ships arriving that would otherwise pass us by (whereas only one of qualifying description actually plies our waters once every two weeks during “high season”). It also totally discounts the “value” of diving, as if it were some kind of non-commercial and irrelevant hobby – unless the cash register is ringing. I can tell you, as a Caymanian voter and diver, that I don’t dive everyday. I may even go a year or more in between dives, but that doesn’t mean that diving resources are worthless to me, quite the opposite. Knowing they are there, in good shape, and telling people about them, is a source of great pride that this corrupt regime will never understand.
PWC were consultants paid to deliver an agreed conclusion using info fed to them by CIG.
“PwC has not performed an audit examination on this information. Except where specifically stated, PwC has not sought to establish the reliability of the sources of information presented to them by reference to independent evidence. The economic analysis presented in this report is based on estimates and assumptions, and projections of uncertain future events. Accordingly, actual results will vary from the information provided in this report, even if some or all of the assumptions materialize such variances may be significant as a result of unknown variables.”
Why are the tour operators that work with the cruise ship companies content to only keep 30% of the pie? The cruise ship companies keep 70% of what they charge their guests for the excursions booked through them yet the tour operators take all of the risks. Tour operators keep 100% of the pie (ie more than triple the amount they get from the cruise lines) when they get overnight visitors (or cruise ship passengers) to book with them directly. The tour operators that say they would go out of business if the cruise ship numbers do not stay the same or increase must have been brainwashed by someone. Clearly overnight visitors booking directly are better for their bottom line even if they end up with far fewer of them.
The main tourist attractions on island (ie Stingray City and Seven Mile Beach) are already overcapacity and can not handle additional visitors. Our infrastructure is not equipped to deal with more people either. The cruise ship passengers that spend the least amount of money on island are contributing more to the problem than to the solution. They do not put anything meaningful into the economy but they do generate trash that goes directly into the dump. Eventually the overcrowded attractions will lead to a decrease in the number of overnight tourists. Having new planes and a nice new airport will not solve this problem.
The government should be focusing on overnight visitors and limiting the number of cruise ships that stop here not wasting money and destroying the environment to build a dock to allow 4 ships to dock while 4 others tender on busy days.
My understanding from someone employed in one of the cruise-related businesses is that they don’t even get 30%. The figures he gave me were they get $18 for a trip the cruise line sells for $94 – that’s just under 20%. He also says that, unlike stayover customers, the cruise shippers don’t buy drinks onboard and don’t tip.
Can Mr McLaughlin and Mr. Kirkconnell come out publicly and show this agreement between Government and the Cruise lines to finance the pier . If you can’t , you shouldn’t be trusted .
I don’t understand why the Government has to burden the Island down with all the development and debt in one or two years . Just look at all big money and debt incurred in just a short time . What are the government really thinking about ? Just getting re-elected .
While unna crying on CNS, the dock going get built. Watch.
Great job Alden, I think I will have to move to your area just to vote for you. Progress is what i like to see.
You must be paid to comment. I live in Alden’s district and voted for him. Next time I will vote for anyone, and I mean anyone, who stands against him. I don’t know who he represents but it sure isn’t me. If I could have a do-over I would vote for Dr Frank. I would vote for Dr Frank’s parrot before I vote for Alden again
You do know he stated he has no intention of running right? You all think he cares?
We know he does not care. Job done. Country dismantled. On vacation with my idol Tony Blair.
The only reason he isn’t running again is because there is a term limit on the office of the Premier, but don’t be surprised if these “constitutional talks” lead to a few convenient changes for Alden and the PPM led farce they call a unity government
I happen to live, and vote in Red Bay too. What are the reasons behind your comment?
4:57 am: you were obviously wide awake. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
There was a time when I used to say that the PPM was better than the McKeeva Bush cabal of blackguards (with the understanding that this is not hard to do). Now that the two heads of that insatiable beast have let go of trying to hide their hidden in plain sight collusion and agenda, with a monopolistic entity pulling the strings, I can say that they will never again get a vote from me. The Cayman Islands and her people must do what is necessary to rid these islands of this despicable trio of charlatans, by any means necessary.
And speaking of a Cabal…CHEC , an extension of the Chinese government and backed by their governments Bank, will come in at a low price just to get the project. Then they will invoke one the “screw you” clauses to take over ownership of the facility.
This is what they did in the Bahamas and investors lost billions , be afraid of Chinese bearing gifts Cayman , be very afraid.
I agree. Those in Cayman who support any presence of CHEC in Cayman, even entertaining them, has shown their hand. Those who would, will and do are the enemies of the Cayman Islands, her people and what is left of it’s and our future. May hell itself rise up and swallow them whole. As for shame, that only belongs to those who possess a conscience.
Tourists off the ship aren’t buying on the waterfront because all is there is tacky T shirt and souvenir shops selling all the same stuff and charging sky high prices. Where are all the nice classy shops that used to be there in the 80’s? Woods had a lovely store on the corner and that’s gone to yet another cafe. As if there isn’t enough watering holes in Cayman. I remember Dominics cafe which closed down and that was really lovely. Benetton clothes shop used to be there too. I know we have to move on with the times but being tacky isn’t moving on. You have to drive to see any quality shops now off the West Bay Road or to the industrial estates. Welcome Home is a lovely shop in Governors Harbour which I always buy to take back to the U.K. please Cayman get those lovely quality shops back down to town. Not mounds of tacky souvenir shops.
We also need somewhere like a Fort Street Market back. I never did find out why that place closed but it was a real gem. With a huge buffet for breakfast and lunch, and good selection of grocery and health items with an emphasis on things tourists might need, it looked after GT workers and cruise shippers in equal measure. Basically it was the sort of place a tourist would see and go ‘oh perfect, I needed (let’s say aspirin)’, they’d go in, buy it and several other things.
If we want cruise shippers to spend we need to sell them things they will buy. The options on offer now appear to be cheap, poorly made, identikit Caribbean tourist junk (the sort of stuff no one other than a visitor would ever buy), and luxury products. So one group of goods is not good enough to justify spending any money on it, the other is unaffordable to most visitors. But something like a grocery store? You could get $20 just in there out of a lot of cruise shippers who don’t want to pay on-board prices for those things.
If the businesses were profitable they would still be open. You go open one.
Fort Street Market never stopped being profitable. It was very profitable. I remember the manager, a long-serving, much-loved senior member of Foster’s team, telling me that he put so much candy by the cash registers because tourists got their change back in CI and knowing it would be of no use to them in a few hours, would spend it on mints and things – hundreds of units a week. I remember him showing me how every fountain soda cup had the same lid regardless of size. It was in fact managed by an expert and if I am not mistaken it was something to do with the manager that led to the store’s closure; his departure I believe. I really just can’t remember fully.
Also I’m sick of these smart-ass remarks about how if we don’t like things, we should just buy them or open them ourselves. No, people who are in a position to do that should do that. Like Foster’s, which could re-open what used to be its own store. Don’t ask me, an attorney, to do it for them. I don’t know anything about it. Not my line of work. But I would sure love to pick up my lunch there again.
@8:30 I agree especially since all the T-shirts stores are supplied by what 2 distributors so you have the exact same shirt in 5 stores.
As long as they are still putting it in the North Sound then we have no objection.
Why no public vote Alden? What have you got to loose? Clearly something.
Look you PPM / Kirkbot party supporters . Do you have any LOYALTY/CONCERNS for anything else but your party ? Do you believe that while this pier is being built , that you will have a job building it ? NO YOU won’t, unless you need a work permit . That is one way that Alden and Moses is talking about the money to be enjected in the economy . Do you believe that after the dock is finished YOU are going to get cruise ship business from the pier ? NO , UNLESS YOU have lots of money to pay for a concession . Do you know that the Cayman Islands Government would have to pay the debt for building the pier ? Do you know that every CITIZEN /CAYMANIAN would be TAXED to pay for CAL , TURTLE FARM , AND PIER too ? DO YOU know that those debts/money’s owed is going to be in the hundreds of MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to be paid back quarterly /yearly for a long long time ?
The bottom line here is that I think the party leaders don’t care about YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT, unless YOU are made of money . Remember that after they destroy the UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENT YOU will not have that to make a LIVING /DOLLARS from . Remember that many people have been able to make a very good living from the UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENT for a while now and is still able to.
But YOU won’t be able to after it’s been destroyed and gone .
Why are you commenting under a non PPM supports post?
Well, it may soon be time to put in another monument to leaders of the Cayman Islands. Right next to the Heros Park needs to be the A***oles Park. With many other policy decisions qualifying Moses and Alden for membership, the cruise berth fiasco will ensure their inclusion. Ha, only Mac will be enshrined in both.
Don’t forget to plant Cayman flag on the top of the Mount Trashmore.
So the cruise lines are bidding? Ask the Jamaican business how well that worked out for them after they built a port and then built their members only trade village. WTG CIG, better dress GT up good before you whore it out.
Hear Hear! The 245Million will be divided amongst a handful of the duty-free/Kirk shops and I’d laugh if any of the 500 jobs went to locals and for what? A whopping two years? No ROI in any of this but debt for our grandchildren and a ruined Hog Sty Bay.
Ohhhh and did the politicians “forget” to tell you about the Dynamite they are blasting to build the cargo port in front of the museum??
Maybe one of our clever lawyers can stop the port by stopping the blasting near protected marine artifacts? Maritime Heritage Committee any help?
I guess this is why the cruise reps were at the town hall meetings. Well Aldart, now that they have committed can we please know the details on the full costs and how much lube we need and how we need to bend over? Will we get dinner first?
No, and we will not be kissed after, nor made breakfast.
But we will do the walk of shame.
Odd that there’s been no official announcement from either Royal Caribbean Cruises or Carnival Corporation on this. Anyway there’s an old saying, ‘You don’t get owt for nowt,’ and if the cruise lines are putting their money into this you can bet they’ll want something pretty substantial in return.
Surely they are just glad their passengers don’t have to take those tenders anymore!
8:23 am — don’t be so naive.
When the ship stops at their own private island they tender them in. On WWII landing craft! The cruise lines like berths if someone else is paying for them. This cruise ship financing will not be a gift.
@8:23 The cruiselines will have a vested interest in the port so they will get all the port fees now as a right off and I’m sure a hand in the businesses that will be in their little merchant kingdom. Win win for them and a few MLA’s, lose lose for you, me, CIG and CI.
4:57 For a start they’ll demand a relaxation of the gambling laws so the casinos can stay open in port – that alone might justify any investment they make.
Can’t wait for my fellow Caymanians to grow a pair and realise the dictatorship mindset of the elected officials in power. I can’t wait till we all come together and throw them out on the road where they belong with the rest of the criminal scum we got drifting around here.
Brilliant! What a brilliant move, with the cruise lines putting up the money they have the incentive to frequent our port, and we own it in the end. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Let’s get er built, and crank up our economy.
Cayman won’t own the port, you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about do you?
9:17 am — we need to know the details of this deal. No business today invests without expecting returns. This is the basic rule of business.
They wouldn’t do it if they knew they couldn’t recoup their $200m plus investment. My concern is how more over that $200m will they be getting back or how many times that $200m.
In case you missed the statement, “Government has intended to undertake the cruise pier development as a public-private partnership, where the selected bidders and cruise lines will finance and build the facilities and then collect passenger fees over 20 years.”
So, no public funds are being used to build the port! And the passenger fees that are currently going to the TENDER operators will go to the financiers instead. After 20 years, it goes to CIG and we own the dock.
Sweet Deal for Caymanians. Someone else pays to build our dock and the only one not getting their passenger fees anymore are the TENDER operators.
It’s passenger head tax and port fees that currently goes to CIG that is going to go to the financiers. The cruise lines won’t be paying for tendering, but that’s a cost saved for them (assuming they even use tenders and not their own life boats) and not something you can pass over to financiers. So yes, public funds ARE being used in terms of lost revenue – and lots of them if there is going to be enough to repay $299-300m in cost plus interest over 25 years.
No, you are incorrect. The head tax and port fees will still go to CIG. The landing cost which which now goes to the TENDER operators will instead go to the financiers since they are providing the ‘landing’.
So, NO public funds are being used for building the port. Nada.
Good work PPM, build the piers as soon as possible.
Alden you making Trump look good. Must be the fumes from that Max 8 clouding your mind and building a bigger port facility “At a time when huge economic threats are looming”. Not good.
What is the name of the three last bidders
Where are we with that referendum?
Please don’t spend millions on a referendum, it’s a waste of CIG money.
Less wasted than 25 years loss of passenger fees
The dock is the waste of money not the referendum.
Kirkbots on watch to win the ?? or ?? Battles on CNS
Bang!
So all the crap that the Port objecters was feeding us was BS!!
So CIG puts up no cash loses no revenue and we get the port once the cruise lines recovers its money.
Seems like a great deal to me.
Hurry up and build the piers
And all that glitters is gold, for a fool…..
7:51 There’s no such thing as a free lunch. By the time CIG grants duty waivers, offsets or other concessions to the companies involved and the cruise lines have applied their business plans to this project we’ll not only all be paying for it but for a very, very long time.
Hey genius. If we give up no revenue, how exactly do the cruise lines recover their money? I know its Christmas but something for nothing – or $200-$300m for nothing – seems a tad unlikely.
Don’t be so naive. “So CIG puts up no cash loses no revenue”
No one gives or loans you money for nothing. The government will lose hundreds of millions in revenue that they would have received from the cruise ships over the coming years. So although they may not put cash up front, the country will be paying for it for decades of reduced revenue. Not to mention the millions to be spent on annual maintenance. So less revenue in means less government money available for public services, schools, healthcare, roads, policing etc. And all that extra income from the cruise ship visitors (if indeed they will spend any more money, that’s not proven) well, that won’t be going in your pocket. That will go into the pockets of the businesses that will own the shops on the new dock. Money goes to money and the poor just get further isolated from it.
We lose total control of our port for 25 years and inherit a weathered/beaten up pile of crap that will need millions invested to repair it… So there is that!!!!
We don’t lose control of our port. It stays in the hands of the port authority. Just like it is now. Cruise lines wont be managing the port. Port authority will.
9:54 Are you sure about that? Because I’m not confident that’s the way it’ll work out. Look what’s been happening at Falmouth – as soon as the locals wanted a say in things Royal Caribbean started making threats.
9:54 Are you for real? The Port Authority is a joke! They’ll do nice little backdoor deals and sell the whole thing out to the highest bidder.
Port authority will do as they are told if this goes ahead.
They lose all Passengers fees for up to 25 years adding up to hundreds of millions of dollars
“There is no future in doing nothing,” Oh don’t worry Alden, .instead of letting you sell our future and ruin the thing that brings people here, we will do something. I think your fate is sealed, I would bet good money you won’t make it next election . PPM MLA’s: Unfortunately, he is going to sacrifice a bunch of you as well. Moses gets back in though…
“There is no future in doing nothing.”
That’s a lie Alden. Mount trashmore continues to grow into the future because the likes of you continue to do nothing.
Dart has the contract and will rectify it in the interest of all his surrounding property….
You folk don’t even realize that the reason that trash heap hasn’t been done yet is because Dart is holding that dock over their heads.
Foo Foo’s all over up in here.
Oy mate, Dart might own Alden but he doesn’t own this Island. Remember that foo foo.
Are you sure about that?
Could Moses and Alden explain which snorkel spots will replace the ones destroyed in town for the cruisers to visit.
Also which beaches will the cruise shippers use?
Simple questions and we want specifics.
Smith cove and barkers .
who do you see snorkeling off the cargo dock LOL
Kirkbots out early.
Oh good, the EasyJet and RyanAir of cruise lines, what could possibly go wrong?
Its good to hear that the Cruise lines are offering to put their money where their mouth is. I’m proud of the Government to finally reach this final stage before starting to build this much needed port facility. Change is not an easy concept to accept, but alas its the next step forward in Cruise Ship tourism.
We are being left behind with older ships that have to offer big discounts to sell those ships. Of course most of those people are not spending much. But we have to offer new attractions not just copycat what is already here. We are older you all are younger think!! This facility is not going to benefit as much to the over 65. But innovation and focus is your future. Look at the people running Skegway, brilliant!! Stop complaining and approach your dreams.
To7:18 . Only shelbon would belive this ,that man ain’t gonna stop till he sink us ,and he don’t give a hoot cause he ain’t gonna run anymore . Better finish that high school and for God sake use the cifec school bldg for a trade school ,Lord help us .
at least not the chinese
It will be CHEC and Decco because they are the big dogs. Our leaders will follow how they are told.
It really looks like ALL CAYMANIAN VOTERS are going to have to STAND UP TO THESE TWO , no respect for YOU OR THE ENVIRONMENT.
The 245 million net economic benefits, for who ? The 500 jobs, for who? CAYMANIANS , SORRY CAYMANIAN don’t need work permit .
The petition for the referendum will be put off from being certified till year 2021 , and they will try to start the project in may 2019 .
I am telling you that you need to wake up today , not tomorrow .
Thank you for this post….so we ready or only online fake toughing?
I have never heard so much bullsh1t from the PM, and he is meant to be an educated man.
Let him commit to zero unemployment and no cost to this Island with his fanciful speech.
And don’t let me even go there with CAL.
Just about every day we have al least one Carnival ship in port and often two, and these ships have the lowest spenders in the industry. CIG get real!.
More manna from heaven according to Alden and Moses.!! I am so sorry for the financial burdens they are creating for my kids and grandkids to pay. Between the dock, CAL, and the turtle farm, they will be heavily burdened for decades to come.
Anonymous 5 :23 pm , I agree with you 500% , I hope that everyone else see what you’re saying . Then along with having all of that debt on your grand and great grandchildren , the UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENT would be gone .
Quick Unity Government Checklist:
Transparency and accountability – Obscured and irrelevant – Check
Environment – Dug up, trashed and thrown away – Check
Familial and Economic Conflicts of Interests – Through the roof – Check
Ignoring the will of the people – As usual – Check
Quick Legislative Sessions that allow for no real debate – As planned – Check
All is well in this Banana Republic so it would seem
No! Stop this madness. I work in town and put up with the traffic and cruise sheep walking as slowly as humanly possible. They never buy anything at all now, it’s hard enough for them to walk around with all those extra pounds, they can’t handle souvenirs! I grew up doing glass bottom and submarine tours of the harbour for friends’ birthdays. I haven’t even learnt to dive yet and they want to destroy some of the most convenient, celebrated spots we have. It’ll send the wrong message to stay over guests. It’ll push away the divers. It’ll close businesses that aren’t just selling t-shirts and watches, paying people minimum wage. It’s greedy and destructive and unnecessary and just plain wrong! If it takes 3 years to build this thing let’s build it when we really need it, not when we’re just being told some ships won’t come and there are barely any of those ships operating in the region anyway. The benefits do not outweigh the costs at all. If they force this through they’re done, everyone who signed the petition will vote them out. This government truly is worthy of the contempt and hate it gets! In the immortal words of a George Jetson: stop this crazy thing!