CPR takes public pulse as cruise battle heats up
(CNS): As the fight between the small number of operators and merchants set to gain from cruise ship berthing facilities and those who oppose such damaging development heats up, the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman campaigners have published an online survey.
The activists who succeeded in securing enough signatures in 2019 to trigger a people-initiated referendum on the previous cruise port proposal are urging everyone to take part and express their views on the divisive issue ahead of the government’s planned costly national poll.
“Your input is vital to the future of cruise tourism in Grand Cayman. We invite you to participate in our survey to share your views on the proposed cruise berthing referendum,” Michelle Lockwood, one of the founding members of CPR Cayman, said in a release announcing the online poll.
“The survey addresses critical issues, including environmental impacts, economic considerations, and the prioritisation of government resources. Please take a few moments to contribute your perspective and help guide the decisions that will shape our island’s future,” she added.
The proposed construction of a cruise berthing facility, whatever its location and form, would impact economic opportunities, the way of life on Grand Cayman and the natural environment for generations to come. Therefore, the CPR activists have reignited their campaign, and given the massive implications, they are urging people to reject the idea outright.
However, they are pitched against a well-funded and well-organised pro-cruise berthing lobby that has the support of both the government and the opposition
As a result, they need the support of all those opposed to a pier project, whether on environmental, financial, social, historical or aesthetic grounds, and press home to yet another government, as they did in 2020, that the wider community does not support such a costly and damaging project, especially as the suggested benefits are increasingly hard to see.
“We want to ensure that everybody understands the impact this would mean for themselves, their families and their community,” Lockwood added.
Last month, Cabinet approved Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan’s proposal to hold a one-off referendum just a few months before the general election, asking a simple question to measure the support of voters for some form of unspecified cruise pier.
No date has been set for the vote, no question has been revealed, and so far no legislation has been drawn up to pave the way for this national poll, estimated to cost around $1.2 million.
Bryan has repeatedly said that the decline in cruise ship visits is now having a direct impact on the economy through a drop in passenger fee revenues to a reduction in passenger spending. However, the impact that cruises have on the economy is complex and far from a simple benefit versus damage equation.
Any kind of pier, even the most basic facility, will cause environmental damage, though the severity of that damage can only be understood when there is a project on the table. In addition to the direct risk to Seven Mile Beach or the George Town Harbour wrecks and reefs, there will be a negative impact on local infrastructure, the quality of life for residents and overcrowding at attractions, hurting the more lucrative overnight market.
Nor are the economic benefits touted by those who support the idea of a cruise dock as straightforward as they first appear. While they may bring more passengers to shore, many of the retail offerings in George Town are dated and out of touch with the wants of modern travellers, and sales would not necessarily increase commensurately without a change in the business model of the traditional duty-free stores and souvenir shops.
The jobs created over the years by cruise tourism are now disproportionately held by permit holders. While many small trip operators are still owned by local families, a significant number are largely foreign-owned with sleeping Caymanian partners. In addition, those operators partnering with the cruise lines to sell trips directly to passengers on board receive only a fraction of the ticket price charged.
Executives visiting Cayman this week from two leading cruise lines for a regional tourism conference spoke about a massive revival of cruise tourism post-COVID-19. But this optimistic view, presented by Richard Sasso, chairman of MSC Cruises North America, and David Candib, vice president of port operations at Carnival, does not reflect the reality of the industry.
Candib’s argument that cruise ships will eventually stop calling here unless we build piers has not changed for years, but the industry has changed to the point where many see the loss of some cruise ships as an advantage.
The focus of the cruise sector is less on ports of call as the point of cruising and increasingly on the development of their ships to make them the point of the voyage. Private islands are also becoming an important part of itineraries as the cruise lines seek ways of maximising their onboard profits and keeping their passengers on the ship for as much of their cruise vacation as possible.
As a result, traditional ports like Grand Cayman are becoming nothing more than backdrops to the changing shape of this sector.
Cruising has also proved challenging when it comes to containing outbreaks of serious infections on board poorly maintained vessels. The industry’s poor environmental record, reputation for abusing crews, and tendency to cover up crimes and other unpleasant events aboard ships are well documented and have sullied the sector’s reputation.
The impact of massive and multiple ships calling on small picturesque and environmentally sensitive ports, especially in European destinations, has seen a backlash, with some destinations limiting calls and others looking to end cruise tourism completely. Many destinations regret decisions to build facilities that have failed to deliver on the commitments made by the cruise lines that urged or supported the projects.
All of these issues are the topics that CPR want the wider public to consider against the arguments made by the pro-dock campaign that berthing facilities will automatically convert into more profit for some businesses and are, therefore, worth the potentially long list of negative consequences.
Take the survey here.
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Category: Business, development, Local News, Tourism
Questions:
1) Do we have to register to vote everytime for the 4 year election as i just started to vote last election so this would only be my 2nd time so i don’t know if i have to register each time?
2) Does it take 6 months for the voter registration to be completed?
3) When did Government announce there would be an upcoming vote for a Government Referendum for the Cruise Piers?
CNS: You don’t have to register again, but let the Elections Office know if you have moved.
It takes between three and six months to get on the electoral roll once you have registered.
The CIG said in July that there would be a referendum (see here) but they haven’t set a date or said what the question(s) will be, and they have to pass a referendum law to do that.
I must say, I was always supportive of CPR but this Poll is so biased and written to force you to answer the way they want you to, that I am now suspicious of their motives!
Numbers don’t lie… The Port website shows about 157K passengers in Dec 2023, 166K for December 2024 and already booked for 170K in 2025…
Note that it is no coincidence that the cruise companies come and shake the tree during the summer months when the numbers are way lower and concerns running rife with the vendors as the experience the slow season.
They will NOT send more ships or passengers during these slow months – they know the cruise industry focuses on Europe and Alaska then.
They may send more in the winter months, but if the schedules are right, they are already meeting the demand with the smaller ships. They just want us to fund their economies of scale larger ships for their convenience.
Believe me, there is NO loyalty or benevolency in the cruise industry…
There is a natural season because of school breaks being able to travel farther in the summer and also a thing called hurricane season. I don’t know why this refrain of we will send our ships in the summer comes out. It is a massive liability for cruise lines to have ships in the Caribbean during hurricane season.
Also, while cruise tourists may make up the quantity of tourist, they do not even remotely equate to the revenue generated from stay over tourists.
It’s an emotive issue and I get that, but it doesn’t change the weather or natural seasons.
I love how the town merchants try and use the argument that the passengers will be able to get off and spend more money – actually, it makes it easier for them to walk back onto the ship and partake of their all-inclusive means and tuff.
Also, if they come off and find it overcrowded, which it will be with an influx off multiple ships, they may turn right back around and say screw it.
THIS COULD VERY MUCH WORK AGAINST THE MERCHANTS.
Has anyone been to Nassau on a full cruise ship day? No locals in their right mind would go down town and experience the misery and crowds. As a result, town is dead at night. This would far from revitilise George Town – it would be the final nail in the coffin.
“…the small number of operators and merchants set to gain” is itself a false conclusion. In the all or nothing equation where “large ships won’t tender”, a single fixed pier would cap the offloading passengers to 2 big ships down from current 5-6 large anchoring and tendering ships. On the busiest high season days, I think we’ve had 7 or 8. So swapping all of those others for the limited luxury suite occupants from 2 fixed ships doesn’t seem like an increase in that high spend, wrist-watch collecting, bobble-buying foot traffic. I think this is a loser plan for everybody except the FCCA lobby trying to pay down fines from the ADA complaint roster, the settlements from dropped/crushed passengers, and other untrained crew mishaps. We need to start seeing this for what it is.
Cayman needs a harbor, and probably a few of them. GT is obvious location for a mega harbour catering to yachts, powered and sail, along with ample docks for local residents. Its amazing to me how we fail to cater for residents boats on the West and South side of the main Island. Red bay, EE, North Sound/Breakers all areas for small harbors catering to smaller boats.
Cruise ships, we dont need them and certainly not 20,000 passengers a day 4 days a week. But we shouldn’t push them away. There’s a compromise somewhere.
oh, and please ban leaf blowers
GT is an open blue water sea port exposed to extreme storm conditions and wave action during a long summer hurricane season and winter Nor’Wester season. Te hardpan is shallow, with ancient coral heads providing incredible snorkelling, and then from there it drops off to around 800-1000 feet like a cliff, because we are on a mountain. If we were an island in the Bahamas, what so many envision for Cayman would make sense, but we’re not, and never will be. Agree on the 2 stroke gas leaf blowers. Electric would be fine.
Will we get time off work for the referendum ?
Ossie and Alva in Savannah?? No..no, we have already decided that Anthony Eden Jr will represent Savannah and Raul Gonzales will represent Newlands.
Sorry CPR I cannot associate my email address with that nonsense survey. Please resubmit.
Agreed. Extremely bias survey. It sounded like “If you want the port to be built and hate puppies click yes, If you don’t hate puppies click no”.
Puppies do irk me at times.
Especially MP puppies and muppets!
Build the dock in Cayman Brac. They need more investment and people. Grand Cayman needs less investment and people. It’s a win win. The Brac has even built residential blocks for construction workers. No brainer.
Your last two words are spot on. Building it in the Brac is a no brainer. People come to Cayman to visit Stingray City, Crystal Caves, SMB. Then how do we get them to Grand Cayman after they land on the Brac? Tender. The very thing we do now. But I’m sure you were just trolling.
You’ve obviously never climbed the bluff or visited the caves on the Brac. It feels like a Caribbean experience too. Grand Cayman is Miami now and cruise visitors don’t want that. Brac has better scuba sites and the people are amazing.
The distance is too far to the Brac to tender. There is not enough attractions to support the industry. Has to be in GT.
Imagine this – the Cayman islands Government employs some where between 8,000 – 10,000 Caymanians. CUC is the second largest employer of Caymanians followed closely by Northward Prison. If you think your Cruise/Tourism industry is representative of Caymanians you’re riding the quack bus. The dive industry, the tourism industry, the construction industry, the real estate industry, the Financial industry, matter of fact 90% of industry on this island is controlled and saturated with foreigners owners and foreign workforce. What a sad lot Caymanians have turned out to be.
LTD Da Unboozler
I thought Dart was second, or did they lose that spot?
This CPR survey is a complete joke, all of those involved should be ashamed at putting out such a one-sided, alarmist set of questions. – Ask the questions in a mature, sensible way and lets see where we get to.
That’s exactly the way the government is likely to be phrasing their question though. How you ask the question hugely influences how people answer it.
Go Michelle, you succeeded once before, time to do it again.
Just don’t blame “crying Bryan” the rest have to share the blame also. Let’s put it this way…Savannah will hold Heather Bodden accountable in the next seven months. She voted for the inflated budget, voted for the EWA..( changed her land to commercial…blamed it on her sister…pushed for the dredging of the marine park for her personal gain…blamed it on her sister………etc..
Heather spent too many years too close to the UDP. Now she’s acting like them.
Her time may be short, I am hearing that both Ossie Bodden and Alva Suckoo are thinking about running in Savannah.
Two ppm donkeys needing a job. They are not a community worker like feather b and will not defend her
Tweedle dee and tweedle dum. No more re-treads.
How about an ordinary individual with no criminal convictions and an IQ above 100?
Ossie in Savannah now? Man need to choose a neighborhood and stay there. Ran for BT where he lived & own in Newlands too so he can run there. Now he own in Savannah? Anyways, him nor Alva or Wayne will be getting my vote so might be a free day for me to sleep in come Election Day.
Great, we’ll all be saved by Ozzie and his cow cod…
The only recycling program that Cayman has down pact is that of our politicians. Same sh*t. Different day.
Insanity.
Just put it before the voters once and for all. Simple question Yes/No:
“Do you support the development of a pier for the purposes of docking cruise ships in George Town?”
If it comes out 70/30 as No, then drop it.
51/49 actually of those who turn up to vote.
That’s great. We’ll put the cruise pier elsewhere.
In the bin
That’s great. We’ll put the cruise pier elsewhere.
The Minister is right, ‘do we want cruise piers / mass cruise tourism’? Yes/no. Simple. (I would add ‘on Grand Cayman’, but that’s just me.)
Dont forget us on Brac. We need a cruise port too. Make it happen Miss Julianna.
She will build it even if it is not needed, as long as her name is on it!
Yes, you are so right. Brac needs a cruise port as much as it needs a $50million high school.
But in all seriousness, I would settle for getting our roads repaved – after all the digging up and patchwork.
Better wait for the now four miles of connections to future WA customers to be made first. Oh, no wait, now the third time the roads have been dug up on the Brac. We’re good for one more.
Funny, there’s a plan underway to give brac a sae harbour, and from what I understand local residents don’t want it to happen?
Scratching head here.
https://www.oasis-land.com/port-zeus-master-plan-frank-shilling-cayman-brac/
Poorly disguised quarrying operation. Nothing more.
If you’re confused, it’s because you’re not paying attention, or funded by Schilling to act that way. Maybe even both.
Literally the Frank Schilling plan.
Michelle,I’m asking kindly,you and your group please stop…. misleading this country with your false information.
There are over 3000-4000+ Caymanians who depends on cruise tourism to feed thier families and pay thier costly bills.
Cruise tourism has helped made it possible for stayover guests we have the privilege of having now.Thery are one of the greatest advertisers who market our uniquetourism product. This is a great marketing tool.
Some use this method to get a sample of each Island they visit. I work in the business since I was 11yrs old when on vacation from school.Cruise guests choose the certain ships because it itinerary includes Cayman which the love. It’s the,culture,beauty,it’s safe and most of all the people.They enjoy most.
The Shorexs onboard have mentioned over and time again that more than half of the people are on the ship choose to stay onboard,not to have the hassle of waiting long queues to get back on board. At times they have to bare the hot sun and rain. This leaves a bad taste for them.These are people who would spend money into the economy.
Both Stayover and Cruise visitors are equally important to our economy.
Yes! we must protect the environment.However the developers have shown different plans that won’t affect the environment.
We have to stop this immature fighting.People livelihoods depend on this part of tourism.
There’re more work permit holders in the hotels ,restaurants etc. Why you don’t you and your group speak about
that.
We’ve seen videos of stayovers guests asking “where are the natives”?
So Michelle please stop misleading this country….if you don’t have know. Probably you don’t work in the cruise industry.
Guests have express that other ports they go visit is beneficial for them,that have a proper dock.They travel with family members who are in Wheelchairs,this make it safer and easier to come off and on the ships. This give more time in port to spend.
I SUPPORT GETTING A PROPER BIRTHING FACILITY FOR OUR CRUISE GUESTS. We claim to be a top class destination… Let do this Cayman.Vote yes. Don’t be mislead by So call CPR.
Another pro port shill displays their ignorance and desperation of a person that cannot see past their own nose. How many Caymanians really work in Tourism?
The Cruise lines, Tortuga group, Kirk Freeport, Sand Bar, Rankine’s crappy bar, Dart, ALT and Shilling are all financially set. They are talking bollocks using the limited number of Caymanians in the pro port group like puppets and financing everything which will still fail on Referendum day.
Minister Bryan please stop lying to the country. It is embarrassing and will result in your government being negatively impacted at the polls on Election Day just like the previous tone deaf government the PPM.
Hold the referendum on Election Day to save money. The question is simple and the answer will be easy for the majority to VOTE NO
There are already proper birthing facilities at HSA
It’s time for Cayman to move on to a future with minimal cruise tourism , or to modify to a smaller impact version of it with higher quality experience/smaller ships, not larger ships.
Buses packed with cruise passengers stopping to look at the Governor’s residence does not qualify as an island experience.
Yet, it continues.
what plans have you seen? what developers? Please enlighten the public, because as far as I know there are no “plans” and no “developers”.
Please explain what is the ‘….uniquetourism product.’
There is nothing unique about it.
The survey is ridiculously biased in the framing of the questions. This is quite unnecessary, and undermines the point of it. Strip away the one-sided nature and they’d still get the result they obviously want because the cruise port is a terrible idea for everyone apart from a sliver of greedy business people who already have fat pockets, and some unskilled labor that can’t work anything else.
I don’t know why this is being moved out. I think the survey is just asking who wants cruise berthing and under what circumstances? Do we want cruise berthing at any cost? No, then we demand that the government give us cruise berthing (should that be the consensus) with environmental protections and at no long term repayment for the future of Cayman.
If this destruction and major permanent alteration is something we would collectively accept for the small number that stand to partially benefit, then the FCCA membership should be shouldering the full cost for Cayman, not the other way around. We are missing the adults that understand the business equation. The Referendum question should ask two questions: yes or no to the destruction, and if yes, do we, and our children, choose to bear that cost for the multibillion dollar US listed companies, or should we choose to let FCCA figure out an acceptable plan for us to review? We are the central feature of their money-making billion-dollar western Caribeean itineraries, perfectly situated mid-circuit. We have all the bargaining power, not the FCCA.
Agreed. The framing of the questions makes them look sophomoric and they just opened themselves up for criticism from the pro-cruise lobby. I wish #DontPaveParadise had taken the lead on this.
Didn’t we have a referendum for this? Shouldn’t this be over and dead?
No, we didn’t. CPR prevented the referendum from taking place.
CNS: Gaslighting alert. CPR successfully challenged the questions and the timing of the referendum, which were both heavily skewed in the government’s favour.
I hope all the thumbs up on this are for CNS’ correction to this BS.
No, it never went to a referendum previously.
Why is the government led by Minister Bryan willing to leverage the country for the benefit of a few GT merchants and surrender our financial independence to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and NCL cruise lines?
Time has come to vote them all out for following such foolish plans and expensive mistakes that will be detrimental to the Cayman Islands.
He will be sitting pretty though.
Perhaps the China based company that has been given the green light to build the new port hands out generous ‘gifts’ to those that do as they are told.
You’re effing kidding me… has Mac lined up his dodgy CHEC friends again?
THIS is the reality for Cayman today in the tourism industry where few Caymanians are employed.
“The jobs created over the years by cruise tourism are now disproportionately held by permit holders. While many small trip operators are still owned by local families, a significant number are largely foreign-owned with sleeping Caymanian partners. In addition, those operators partnering with the cruise lines to sell trips directly to passengers on board receive only a fraction of the ticket price charged.”
The cruise lines scare the passengers by saying they won’t hold the ship if they get stuck. 20 operators would be out in the north sound if any boat broke down so that the passengers would make it back to the ship on time. A lot of the operators get $13 per head after everyone else takes their cut. It’s despicable.
CPR continues to act in the best interests of this island, and we are so grateful for that!
I wonder if some officials in cig have already received their kickback payments, and that is why they are so desperate for a dock?
Why do the Cayman Islands not have a modern, well functional dock in George town when most other destinations close by do? Simple question with a simple answer that tells you Cayman Islands will never have a modern, well functioning anything here in the near future. This is part of Caymans charm.
Take a look at the water in front of kimpton. No to the dock.
What a biased survey, Waste of time.
The jewelry/freeport merchants are not happy about this, build the piers as we want the customers!
The trash that comes off those cruise ships are not stopping into Kirk Freeport to buy a Patek Philippe…
Caymankind 11:11
What does this have to do with CanalHouseGate?
Follow the money
Just pi$$ off kenny and join the other pirates in ppm
Why is Minister Bryan so desperate to sink his government with the same issue that exposed the PPM and all their lies?
When a clown goes to the palace he does not become king, the palace becomes a circus.
Perhaps Mac has explained to Kenny how generous CHEC can be.!
This government is a bloody joke. Bryan is the biggest joker
Thank you CPR Cayman
Kenny is a joke as minister of tourism. He wasting our time and governments money on a Referendum this year. He should hold the referendum on the same day as the general elections.
Kenny is a joke as a cabinet minister, full stop. Well, if there were such thing as the Minister of Grift, he’d be qualified for that, but nothing else.
Your first four words were sufficient.
Kenny is a joke. Full stop.