Bryan to meet with cruise bosses as port calls fall
(CNS): Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan and senior officials from his ministry are attending the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference and Tradeshow in St Maarten this week. The visit comes against the backdrop of decreasing cruise ship calls and a proposed referendum next year asking Cayman Islands voters if they want cruise berthing facilities, creating an increasingly polarised debate about whether the benefits of cruising are worth the costs.
During the conference, Bryan will provide a destination update on Cayman’s tourism industry and participate in the “Total Guest Experience” panel, a release said. He will also promote Cayman’s tourist attractions and “strategize on how to better support” the cruise tourism industry.
One of several ministers currently travelling, Bryan, will be rubbing shoulders with the cruise line bosses as they put increasing pressure on him and this country to provide a dock for their mega-ships.
The minister and staff will also be joined by representatives from the Port Authority of
the Cayman Islands (PACI) and the Association for the Advancement of Cruise Tourism in the Cayman Islands (ACT). Bryan had extended an invitation to the CPR activists opposed to the development of a cruise dock but they were unable to send a delegate.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
The water authority’s sewage treatment facility continues to produce toxic gases. Nothing is being done about it. The Water Authority is more intrested in PR flyers that are included with monthly bills. No MP speaks about it. investigative journalist to dig into.
This F&*$%^g Narcissist.
“He will also promote Cayman’s tourist attractions”
Two Mile Beach
Mount Trashmore
Bumper Boat City
Turtle Sewage Centre
Kenneth is looking at this from a past perspective and not a future perspective.
Yes, the cruise port should be built, but it should be built at Port Zeus, which is the future of Cayman.
Don’t forget One Stop Drivva Bus Derbies.
Port Zeus is a dredging and quarrying operation in thin disguise.
Only if it is constructed to handle smaller ships! I think a small cruise stop for Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons class vessels could be really great for Brac and Little. Those ships are growing in production and popularity. Thankfully there are still tourists seeking a rustic experience in a very safe setting for no other reason than those opportunities are rare in this World. It would be nice for Ritz or Four Seasons Class vessels to overnight and tender guests into the new brac Marina. We could do it better here than we did it in Grand.
Compass this morning says kenny boy wants to open up for gambling to keep cruise ships a-coming … whisky, where is this country heading!!!!!!
So how many are on this trip? For a cruise port we have already said we do not want.
Sadly Eric missed out on this wine tasting opportunity.
It’s surprising that no one from CPR chose to attend the conference at the minister’s invitation. It seems like a missed opportunity for engagement. One could question whether the decision not to attend is intended to suggest that the minister is not being transparent. Regardless, I commend the minister for extending the invitation to both parties. It’s disappointing that CPR, despite their strong stance, did not send a representative to share their position at the conference. Engaging in open dialogue could have provided valuable insights, even if only to further inform their own perspective. Public discussions like these are essential for a balanced and informed debate.
“It’s disappointing that CPR, despite their strong stance, did not send a representative to share their position at the conference.”
What are you talking about? – if someone from CPR had gone to the event it wouldn’t change the fact that the entire thing is a pro-Cruise event beginning to end.
You don’t have to take my word for it read their own description of who this event is aimed at – “Anyone doing or looking to do business with the cruise industry, Including: Ports & Destinations; Cruise & Tourism Agencies; Tour Operators; Attractions; Suppliers and Ship Agents.”
Do you see environmental groups mentioned? Conservation groups? Persons with concerns as to the economic, infrastructural and physical effects of mass cruise tourism? Do you see any mention of anyone remotely critical of mass tourism?
Its not a debate or dialogue in any meaningful way – its an annual industry meeting so that Companies and special interest groups can rub shoulders with regulators and government representatives and learn names and faces and pat themselves on the back while cooking up new ways generate revenues FOR THEMSELVES. The purpose of these events is no open dialogue with outside groups – it’s about internal networking.
They are not going to be letting anti-cruise groups speak or engage with them in any meaningful way – it will be the exact same thing they did when the cruise bosses came here in 2019 trying to sell their port project, nodding along, grandiose empty promises and not so subtle threats.
As a final point the tickets to the event are between $1,200-3,000 USD depending on when you bought them (not including room and board for the 4 days) – I say that just to again highlight this is not some open-door public discussion or policy forum its cruise cartel meeting where they discuss how they can make more money – full stop.
CPR were smart to not waste their time with that nonsense.
Do CPR want a referendum as their name suggests or not? Will they be willing to accept the results of a referendum if they don’t get their way?
Well, considering Sir Alden proved so enthusiastically that there is no Gazetted “Referendum Law” (not even proposed for discussion/consultation in Draft Bill form) seeking to explicitly define the process of defining a resolution question; the standard of procedures; mechanisms for calling; and protocols on ballot counting; would you? The Grand Court found in 2004 that this Law was absent, therefore allowing the Unity Regime legislators to dismiss the CPR petition, but subsequently that government and ones since, have wilfully failed to propose the necessary missing law and regulations required under the Constitution. An autocratic pattern that continues to this day.
Direct that question to your so-called representatives. The only people not willing to accept the will of the people are the Pro-port lobby and their political allies who cancelled the last vote unconstitutionally after spending months wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on their ad campaign, consultants and meetings.
Reminder – the CPR petition got more signatures than the PPM got total votes in both 2017 and 2021
If the PPM thought for a single second they would have won the referendum they would have held it as they were required to do by law.
They didn’t break the law and trash the vote because they thought they were going to win, as idiotic as they are as politicians, they knew which way the wind was blowing, they fled that sinking ship like the rats they are.
Hey Kenny, where are those electric buses you were telling us about?
Cayman needs Cruise Tourism as a dog needs a 5th leg.
Following in Mr. Bush’s footsteps: Go court the cruise lines, see what kind of deal can be made. Forget about what the people want.
Has Mr. Bryan always been Minister of Tourism and PORTS? Did I miss a memo somewhere?
CNS: Wayne Panton reshuffled his Cabinet in March 2023, which is when KB’s portfolio added Ports. See here. The portfolios were shuffled again in November 2023 after WP was ousted. See here for all the Cabinet line-ups.
Will the Chinese be there to continue negotiations with MiniMac..?
“Chinese”.
Now we know what the C stands for in Mac’s new “Non-profit”.
Thank you CNS! I thought I might have had my first Mandella Effect event. 😀
OK. But why are the tourism officers not focusing on developing and rewarding the biggest asset.. the almost invisible Native Peoples?!!
90% of tourism workers are now from 3rd World countries!
Too few Caymanians can show up AND deliver the “service” part at any price. It’s just not something that can be developed if there is an occupational void in the initialising mindset. Certainly not when NAU pays $40k a year.
Yo Kenny! Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
That horse bolted long time bobo
Heed your own advice before posting.
#Vote NO
There is NOTHING here to offer cruise passengers. The beach is gone, it’s expensive as hell, and they get all the food they can possibly eat on the ship already.
Even with berthing I wouldn’t get off the ship in Cayman, to get on a bus and fight traffic to go see turtles in a tank. Forget about the port. Fix the beaches and the dump and then worry about stayover tourism
wrong on every level. cayman has issues but it is one of the best cruise stops for passengers in the Caribbean
ROTFLMAO.
OMG you are sooooooo deluded and clearly haven’t been on many, if any Caribbean cruises.
5:44, got any more gummies left?
“wrong on every level. cayman has issues but it is one of the best cruise stops for passengers in the Caribbean”
Said by someone who probably hasn’t even left West Bay?
5:44 You stated the truth plain and simple. “best cruise stops for passengers in the Caribbean”. It benefits them not us, you said it not me.
Boondoggle, they are more worried about losing the free trips to be wined and dined by the FCCA than doing what is best for Cayman.
If anybody can crack the FCCA, it’s got to be Kenny. Nobody cracks like our Kenny.
Thank God! Kenny is on the case. We’re saved!