Minister says moving cargo port will benefit tourism
(CNS): Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan made a speech on Friday in which he promoted what he believes are the benefits of moving the cargo dock from its current location. In an address about sustainable tourism at the Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum, he said that moving the dock away from the tourism area would almost double the space available for cruise operations and allow the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands to operate during the daytime. Bryan said the port was struggling to cope with the volume of imports, driven by what he said was organic population growth.
The minister said nothing about where he would like to see the cargo port moved to, but he said a business case was being developed by local consultants KPMG and Stantec, the international design consultants involved in the ORIA airfield redevelopment. The results of this report will help the Cayman Islands Government decide whether the cargo port remains where it is or be moved.
Bryan said the CIG was in the process of determining whether or not it is sustainable for the dock to remain downtown in the heart of the business district. But the minister made no comment about the scale of such a project or the potential environmental issues of moving cargo operations and the impact it would likely have on untouched marine habitat.
Bryan first raised the possibility of moving the dock in 2022. Then, in February 2023, a report written several years previously by Joseph Woods when he was acting port director was accepted by Cabinet as a strategic outline case for examining the potential move. That report was in favour of moving the cargo port to Breakers, an idea that has been supported for some time by some local developers and wealthy landowners.
A proposed alternative, besides doing nothing, is to expand the current cargo port. However, this would involve dredging the George Town harbour, which does not have broad public support.
In his speech to the business audience about the impact of cargo operations on cruise tourism, Bryan said that if the dock were moved, the space available to manage cruise operations would virtually double overnight.
“This would help with the management of the embarkation/disembarkation process, and the flow of passengers travelling to [and] from tour buses could be organised more efficiently. There would be significantly less pedestrian spillover onto the harbourfront. Passengers taking tours could be picked up within the larger footprint of the cruise port, thereby reducing the congestion on our streets,” he said, noting that this was one of the major complaints the resident population raises about cruise tourism.
“Another benefit of moving the port is that it would allow us to manage imports into the country more efficiently,” Bryan said. “Port operations would not be confined to only working at night, as they are now; they could also work during the day, essentially doubling the amount of time available to clear imported goods.”
Many environmental and sustainability activists argue that the massive amount of imports coming into Cayman is already unsustainable. With the headcount continuing to grow through immigration, providing few clear benefits to Caymanians, they argue that the solution lies in controlling population growth and pushing for a more sustainable approach to consumption rather than more development.
But Bryan, who is determined to rebuild tourism beyond the 2019 figures and supports the push for continual growth, said it was important to clear Grand Cayman’s traffic congestion by removing the bottlenecks, which would help improve the tourism experience as well as the quality of life for residents.
This was why he supported the road building programme, he said, as he spoke about the Airport Connector Road and the ongoing extension of Godfrey Nixon Way to the Harbor Front, which will allow road users to bypass the town and get to their destinations faster.
He also said the East-West Arterial Road would help to disperse tourism activities across the whole of Grand Cayman, as that depends on a well-connected road system.
“Businesses could more easily and effectively set up outside of town, and it would also support the decentralisation of the government services, retail and housing — all with the added benefit of alleviating traffic, which contributes to a better quality of life,” the minister told the business audience.
“Having that road in place, with activities spread all across the Island, would give visitors more choice of things to do. One of the reasons why products like Stringray City and others are over-subscribed is due to the lack of alternative options.”
In his address, Bryan also outlined the rollout of the Visitor Experience Development Grant to help develop alternative attractions. He said that CI$1 million had been allocated across the two-year budget for 2024/25 to provide start-up capital to Caymanian entrepreneurs and artisans to help them develop new visitor experiences.
“My ministry and Department of Tourism are working hard to ensure that all Caymanians, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, are meaningfully included in our tourism economy,” Bryan stated.
“The objective is to have mom-and-pop shops set up all across the island, especially in the Eastern and Western districts, offering a range of things for visitors to do which highlight Caymanian foods, crafts, tours and attractions. We believe this will have a major effect on decreasing the over-subscription at other attractions like Stingray City and our beaches, and there is data to support this.”
The minister said that international tourism trends point to a shift from ‘sun, sea and sand’ towards more interactive and experiential tourism.
“Tourists are increasingly seeking to go beyond the typical tourist spots and want to see more of the destination in unique and authentic ways,” he noted. “[W]e are not looking to fund another excursion to Stingray City or another walking tour in George Town. The goal is to spur the development of new enterprises or the introduction of new tourism products within existing business operations.”
He said the qualifying criteria list is in its final stages of development, and the ministry would begin accepting applications by the end of the first quarter of this year.
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What about moving the international airport as well? He is spending $45M on a General Aviation terminal at the existing facility which could go towards building a new airport out east. McKeeva was correct on that one.
Mac he is one of your boys, tell him to stop that foolishness nah!
Here is an idea. Make the Spotts dock the primary port of entry for cruise tourism. From what I have seen, it creates less traffic for the working population, and there is actually space for all the headless chickens to cluck about until they get their affairs in order. Yes, there is still some delay as one of the lanes has to be cordoned off for the buses, but there is significantly less vehicular traffic travelling up and down that road during the times the cruises dock. Having all the chickens run around a busy area of town just creates a lot of unnecessary traffic, especially when they stand in the middle of the road trying to take pictures of the ocean. They can do that at Spotts and not be in anyone’s way.
I agree with this assessment and the sooner Cayman gets about making it a reality, the better it will be for everyone. The fact of the matter is that like the roads, if action is continually delayed on doing it, we will reach a critical point where everyone will become frustrated when even groceries cannot be had in sufficient quantities on time. There are people with their own reasons and opinions why it shouldn’t happen, but if one stops and faces reality, it has to happen. Delaying it will only make things worse.
Why don’t we just whip the port into shape. The efficiency almost is non existent. I’ve been there several times where there is no one there to serve you. I’ve been there before where people are drinking beer with their lunch. It’s just beyond ridiculous.
I have two Undergraduate Degrees and Two Masters Degrees but here comes Kenny with his drug dealing conviction to tell me he knows how to run a country, and people actually believed in and voted for this fella. Meanwhile the Government wont even interview me for a job that I am clearly qualified for.
Degrees don’t prove you are smart anymore. The average IQ of college graduates is 102. Years ago the average IQ of the graduates was 120 to 130.
So my point is college’s graduate very average intellectual individuals today.
CNS we need a Mute button for Kenny please!
Legalize it! If you want options for tourists that is low hanging fruit
No weed no vote Kenny you have enough lip service about it time for action
No crack, no vote!
Not the same at ALL. It you don’t talk sense, you don’t matter.
now we talking
Don’t criti-cize it….
Tax the crap out of it,
get the seniors to sift it,
just like Colorado,
no need to reinvent,
the Wheeeeeeeel*
*apologies to Peter Tosh; it was for a good cause
The cargo port is ugly and GT would look much more attractive without it right in the middle of the harbour.
BUT…The environmentalists killed the cruise port so what makes you think the you’d ever stand a chance on this tiny island of either cutting a massive shipping lane into East End or dredging out the North Sound without massive protests and killing most of the marine life in the process?
How much for the Craft Market sign Kenny? Boy she ugly. Fitting though, given the rocky marl lot and tattered white tent behind it.
This Tourism Minister, and other colleagues with criminal convictions, are the ones that need moving. In this case: well away from decision making policy, corrupting standing laws in Parliament, handling public money, and accepting private donor incentives with impunity. Voters need to amend the Elections Law to prevent the career ascent and dubious ambitions we keep witnessing.
Yeh, because KPMG and Stantec did such a great job with the airport. By the time it opened, it was already too small.
And with no covered drop-off, no covered parking, flooded at the first opportunity (terminal built at road level in an area barely above sea level), and a parking payment system that often doesn’t properly work. And don’t forget – way over budget!
All public spending projects contain ever increasing levels of graft. No prosecutions nor convictions. Let the ruling tribe and their backers feast at the expense of us fools.
We have torn down anything that was unique and just about destroyed the environment by overpopulation. The only thing to see here is a concrete jungle. Stopping the population growth will solve all the problems Kenneth is trying to fix. God I wish I had someone to vote for that would represent my views.
overpopulation with ex-pacts.
I hope that was a play on words ??! And not that you can’t spell expat?
Someone has been buttering Kenny’s parsnips.
He just makes some project or other announcement every month then nothing gets done…Infact NONE of Kenneth’s many self serving promotions have come to anything.
A complete waste of time.
the Chinese rubbing their hands like birdman right now.
Mac must have briefed Kenny on the many advantages of doing business with the Chinese.
Ban leaf blowers and illegal billboards!
“Man will do many things to get himself loved, he will do all things to get himself envied.” —Mark Twain
Print that on t-shirts and give out at Kenneth’s upcoming family fair day in George Town.👍🏾
A country is a reflection of its elected politician. As a country, we need a more educated voting population. Or else, it’s turtle stew at party headquarters and the voters will be happy.
Except Cayman is not a country… I agree, we need an educated population…
Uneducated population less likely with current Status and PR board in charge.
MORE likely 3.14
More likely.
Bo Bo you should check to see if SMB exists after this cold front an no amount of warm front will bring it back.
Nor’westers just redistribute the SMB. Marriott might get a beach back temporarily.
How dumb can one get.
What walking tour in George Town? I have worked in Heroes Square for 12 years and have never seen a guided tour? Please send the link, my visitors would love it.
I’m 54 and from time I was a boy tourism was thriving, and still is, even without all these plans. Someone said in the comments cargo ships aren’t here every night of the week, which is correct and doesn’t affect cruise operations, cargo operations are better at night with all the container trucks on the road, why would you want cargo operations in the day with all the bumper to bumper traffic allready? must be some ulterior motive to be pushing this so hard.
Ulterior motive..?
CHEC..
Well said. I completely agree with your comment!
How is the port at capacity when we don’t have cargo ships here every night?
Okay – how about fixing the dump?
And maybe even public transport. Or did Kenny already finish that project?
He didn’t because it is not his Ministry. Maybe try keeping up? I mean there are only 19 of um.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2021/05/bryan-plans-to-transform-public-transport/
Focus your energy on issues the people actual are in support of. All this man can seem to parrot is port this port that.
Maybe because he is the Minister of Ports? Crazy that he should talk about one of his Ministries, right? How dare he!
Dumb Dumb Dumb de Dumb de Dumb.
Dredging the west side of the north sound is the only other viable option. Ships could then unload in industrial park.
Irish, English, Canadians are appropriating the Islands and no effort is being made to save real Caymanian’s because, as usual, money is more important than cultural heritage. They take the jobs, homes and give jobs to their friends kids. No efforts are even made to help the real Caymanian community (swanky cocktail fund raisers for elitists don’t count). May as well rename the “Cayman Irelands” and be done. The Irish took over NY, Boston and Sydney, now the Cayman Islands.
What alternative universe are you living in?
just another NAU applicant being upset about hard working people.
As far as I know, not a single Caymanian landowner or business owner has been forced to sell to a non-Caymanian. Your own people are selling you out and those swanky cocktail fund raisers do more for your local community than CIG ever has just ask ARK or the Lighthouse School.
Ouch!
to be sure, to be sure
Funny. You don’t see the Jamaicans or Philippinos who each greatly outnumber those you reference?
Eejit.
To be sure to be sure !!
I am behooved upon this hour that this original writer has had one too many Guinness. Take heed don’t drink and write as the great Rodney Ebanks once behooved. What’s next claim the Irish caused the dump and blue iguanas to disabeer
Why don’t you behoove off.
There are no real Caymanians mate. They are a hotpotch mix of Native Americans, Africans, Europeans and South and Central Americans. ‘Stolen from Africa….doodley doo….brought to America’. It’s quite scary just how many Caymanians are unaware of parts of their heritage.
do you know your heritage. that’s why we don’t want shit like you people.
You struggled in history class, didn’t you?
An improved, professional public transport system is the only thing that will remove the traffic bottlenecks.
The improvements are possible fairly quickly and easily. Increased use will take time but that can be achieved with enough ongoing political will.
This will help both residents and tourists much. much more than moving things around and expanding roads.
So would remote work, but no one wants simple solutions and that cuts out consultants.
Pass the rum.
Many businesses do not seem to want to continue with remote work. Not sure why. However, much of the traffic congestion is created by persons not associated with those businesses but they still need to get to work, shop, and entertainments in an economical method.
Unlike most of the other Caribbean, Tourism here amounts to <20% of the local GDP, and is a cash-drain rather than bread-winner for the CI government. In that context, it almost doesn't matter what Bryan says. The Cruise terminal and CI port are already two separate areas. Nothing stopping daylight activities, since there is no overlap. Per the Baird Report commissioned on the subject, there is some degraded concrete that needs mending, but the Port itself was found to be operating at under 80% capacity. We need to stop spending money on the bullshit that doesn't matter, manage the assets and human capital properly, service existing debt, retire it on time, and save for the calamities just over the horizon. We can't afford to allow untrustworthy schemers, and convicted criminals, like Bryan to be anywhere near the microphone. The Elections Law should be amended to disqualify them permanently from politics.
Very well said. I agree completely!
we don’t need no stinkin’ cruiseships
THIS!
Kenneth Bryan is a first class example of saying stupid s*** before he thinks, -alright, alright, he still says stupid s*** after he thinks 🤦🏽♀️
Methinks he doesn’t think, he just sees what he likes on his overseas jollies and says I want that in Cayman. And of course adds say under his breath “with my name on it”. Fool fool narcissist, he knows no better.
This phrase comes to mind; ‘Want in one hand and shit in the other hand and see which one gets filled first.’
This is pretty good 5:14, 😂
The North Sound is the only place that makes sense
All hail King Kenny. It seems like a good plan, more peanut butter tourist to buy trinkets from the natives will make everyone happy. Lots of “made in Cayman” products, albeit made and sold by Pinoys and J’cans on work permits, but all profits will go to “HIS” people and it shouldn’t take long before he is knighted for his vision and success.
Well stated.
Pure genius, lets do it now!
Are McKeeva, Ju-Ju & Jon-Jon on board with this idea?
Move it to Barbados………….
Move HIM to Barbados, permanently.
Sorry, but not sorry. We don’t want he in Bim unnu can keep him.
It is no way that the PM of Barbados would allow it! LOL
Here is the first step to him adding “now let’s add a good pier”. Heard this with PPM.