Absence of data undermines proposal for cruise vote
(CNS): All relevant information and data on the plans, location, costs and environmental impacts relating to any proposed cruise berthing facility should be released to the public before the country is asked to vote on such a project, according to local activist group Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) Cayman, which disputes the need for such facilities. CPR is urging the minority government to focus on a sustainable tourism model.
However, the tourism ministry, Cabinet ministers and the Association for Cruise Tourism are stepping up the campaign for the proposed referendum on the principle of cruise berthing rather than a specific project.
CPR, the non-profit organisation formed in 2019 to campaign for a people-initiated referendum on the Verdant Isle cruise project proposal under the PPM administration, believes that any cruise project should be put to the people before the government commits to such a potentially huge and costly development. But in order to make an informed decision, the people must know what they are voting for.
The minority UPM administration, which no longer has a mandate to govern, is nevertheless attempting to steer a referendum bill through parliament, even though a majority of opposition members have said they will not support it, dooming it to failure.
The activists also dispute claims by Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan and ACT that the sector is reaching a crisis. They maintain that a sustainable tourism model that invests in overnight tourism and nurtures a boutique cruise sector will yield higher long-term returns for the local economy while minimising negative impacts on overall community well-being.
“Together, we envision a Cayman that leads the Caribbean as a beacon of sustainability, where
mindful community-centred development, a prosperous and happy community, and eco-tourism
pave the way for enduring success,” the activist group said in a statement released on Thursday.
CPR also noted a number of contradictions that the tourism ministry has made in recent months as part of the promotion of the pro-pier referendum campaign and the release of interviews with cruise line executives.
Last October, Bryan claimed that cruise ships would stay in port overnight if Cayman had piers. However, since then, Carnival Executive David Candib has said that berthing facilities would not change the current dynamics and that their ships would not stay overnight or into the evening.
This is largely because they need to leave so that they can open their casinos since gambling remains illegal in Cayman waters. But even if local gambling laws were changed to allow this, CPR has questioned how it would benefit the local economy since passengers are likely to return to the ship for pre-paid meals.
One of the CPR’s fundamental concerns is the impact that a cruise project in George Town Harbour would have on its unique marine environment. The group disputes cruise executives’ claim that building berthing facilities there would be environmentally and scientifically sound.
Studies showed that the 2019 Verdant Isle proposal, which Carnival was a party to, would have resulted in the dredging of 22 acres of seabed and the direct loss of 12 acres of coral reefs. Sedimentation from dredging would smother surrounding coral reefs, like Eden Rock, and permanently tarnish crystal-clear aquamarine waters with silt and turbidity.
CPR noted that the value of the loss of natural assets would have been around CI$550 million over 25 years. In addition, the destruction of natural coastal defences would increase the risk of storm flooding.
Carnival executives have predicted a decrease in cruise ship calls to George Town of 4.3% per year because they say they would not tender their mega-ships. However, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines have all recently announced that they are still building smaller ships to visit more unique boutique destinations, like the Cayman Islands.
“Data shows that higher-end cruise lines like Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian cruise lines have actually increased their calls to Cayman since the overall record high year of 2019,” CPR said. “While overall cruise arrivals have declined, Cayman’s stayover tourism is experiencing near record highs. Data just released by the Department of Tourism shows that January to June 2024 saw the third highest visitation in recorded history.”
While making up only 20% of the visitor headcount, stayover tourists account for 80% of tourism revenue and contribute less strain to our limited carrying capacity.
According to the latest DoT figures, despite several weather events last year that impacted flights, Cayman welcomed 437,842 stayover visitors in 2024, a 2% increase over 2023. Revenue generated by tourism accommodation taxes and fees for January to November 2024 was around CI$38.5 million, an 8% increase over the same period in 2023.
- Fascinated
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- Afraid
We ALL know cruise tourists don’t spend locally. The revenue earned from cruise ships is the passenger tax and berthing fees which go to Government. The revenue to the private sector amounts to a pre-paid attractions tour or Stingray City trip. After that, maybe some will buy a T-shirt, key ring or a beer.
TOTAL average expenditure per cruise passenger (including pax. taxes and attractions) = US$118 per person.
So, we ruin the harbour and further threaten SMB, add more clutter to the streets and saddle our generations with an, as yet, undeclared debt which will certainly be over US$1 billion, for US$118 per person?
Meanwhile…mega cruise ships are losing popularity and the industry is reverting to ‘smaller ships’, such as those which serve us quite well now.
NO to cruise piers!!
it is all for nothing when you prevent the most qualified and successful people on island from being elected…
welcome to wonderland.
Whoever you are you’re wasting your time you or none of your compatriots will ever become parliamentarian in this land as long as the Xt 20 are alive. So stop the BS Aleut’s you’re becoming sickening and we’ve had just about enough of this wishful blarney of yours. The time is coming soon dear one so be mindful of what you ask for or rather what you wish for. This wonderland as you call it could turn hood tile because if your continued blarney. You know what you in particular with your same comment in two articles are sounding like riff raft. Perhaps we should adopt a Trump strategy on you and others : Mass deportation perhaps? 🚀 hahaha✌🏽🏃🏼♂️➡️😔 Fare thee silent will ya.
I call it peeking in the wind hoping it won’t wet you!
It is clear that Kenneth and his inept cabinet colleagues have no intention of sharing the design, cost, or financing details of the cruise port project. Without this crucial information, every voter must vote “No,” regardless of whether they support the concept of piers. Approving such an expensive and potentially destructive project without transparency is reckless, especially given the risks of further damaging the western coastline and pushing the country toward financial ruin.
While Kenneth may excel at organizing community events and overspending on parks and wishing wells, these skills do not translate to crafting effective national policy or strategy. His policies are incoherent, rambling, and lack the vision required for sound decision-making.
Adding to the concern is the Premier’s singular obsession with fast-tracking the high school in the Brac. She appears willing to overlook reckless spending and poor decision-making as long as her pet project moves forward—a project that reeks of political kickbacks and shady dealings. Her unwillingness to govern with the nation’s broader interests in mind is alarming. While her approach may benefit her small constituency, it is disastrous for the rest of the country.
Don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know this will cost $250Million plus plus.
Don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know we’ll have to borrow additional money just to meet the repayments as well .
85,000 population held hostage by 2000 crying Taxi and tour operators ,T shirt and Cake sellers .
Everybody just learn to make do with what you have and live within your means, rather than have the whole country pay for your “I want more”.
Except the lack of data is exactly what they want.
Too much detail makes it too complex to bring to us woters.
A simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to an idea and give them a blank cheque is the way, amigos.
Pretty sure I read only a few months ago that they had cancelled all data collection efforts and diverted the money elsewhere… CNS?
Here you go: https://caymannewsservice.com/2024/10/upm-drops-plans-for-future-trends-report/
As a status holder It is very reassuring to see from the above comments that our voters have put the “cruiseaders” in their place.The tide has turned and we will not be swamped with cruisesheep going forward. We need to stem the tide and concentrate on the upmarket ships whose passengers spend more onshore.
This story is basically how CIG runs. There is no rhyme or reason for decision making as the auditor general constantly reports.
What other country would allow a single minister with an IQ of less than 70 push through such garbage in order that he can bankrupt these islands? Tourism is NOT our mainstay. It has been proven over and over again.
The ONE and ONLY thing of value WAS the former SMB.. Once it is gone the rest, including financial service industry will follow. Everything on this island revolves around SMB.
Wait.. why would the financial services industry be linked to SMB? If the SMB is truly finished and eradicated in the future, could you please explain the correlation between the two? Also, this is a genuine question, I want to know/learn more about this. Don’t we have other beaches?
Disclaimer: No Excavators, donkeys , chickens , klingons , bronze cast iguana or lobsters were harmed during the redaction of the below statement !
ESRB: Pending
Citizens of the Imperium—prepare yourselves, for heresy abounds!
Once again, the blasphemous obsession with the cruise pier has risen like a Necron tomb world awakened from the sands of madness. No data, no logic, no strategy—just an unwavering devotion to an idea that threatens to sink the island faster than a Chaos incursion on a planetary outpost.
The Emperor Protects, But Even He Must Wonder:
“Do they not possess cogitators to calculate the consequences? Or perhaps their machine spirits are corrupted, leaving them to flail in ignorance like servitors left unsupervised!”
In the grimdark reality of this proposal, logic is an unholy relic long forgotten. No environmental studies, no financial breakdowns, no acknowledgment of the colossal damage to the reefs. The Adeptus Ridiculous is compelled to deploy the Ordo Xenos, for this level of ignorance can only be explained by xeno infiltration or warp corruption.
Heresy #1: The Worship of Vanity Over Progress
The cruise pier, a monument to misguided ambition, rises once more as a false idol. It threatens to pave over the coral cathedrals of the ocean—nature’s temples desecrated in the name of fleeting profits. The Adeptus Astartes would weep at such reckless disregard for the sanctity of the natural order.
Grogg the Ork weighs in, scratching his green head in disbelief:
“Dese ‘oomies try da same zoggin’ plan, ova an’ ova, an’ dey wonder why it don’t werk! Orks might be mad, but even we knowz ya can’t krump da same wreck twice—it’s zoggin’ bad lootin’!”
Heresy #2: The Absence of Data
No feasibility studies. No environmental assessments. No strategic vision. Just blind insistence that the cruise pier must happen, because reasons. Such heresy against logic cannot go unpunished.
“Even the Imperium’s slowest Administratum scribe eventually churns out a dataslate,” fumes the Adeptus Ridiculous.
“Yet here, the supposed leaders of the island fail to conjure even a rudimentary servitor capable of crunching numbers. One can only assume their cogitators are either corrupted by warp entities or lost to the great void of incompetence!”
Heresy #3: The Reefs as Collateral Damage
The reefs are not just a natural treasure; they are a bulwark against the tides of destruction. Yet the PPM and UPM treat them as disposable commodities, ready to be paved over for fleeting gains. The Adeptus Mechanicus would declare this act a Tech-Heresy of the highest order.
“To pave over these shimmering sanctuaries is akin to lighting a promethium torch inside the Emperor’s most sacred chapel,” laments the Adeptus Ridiculous.
“The coral, a natural bastion against destruction, stands not just as a shield but as a testament to nature’s resilience—soon to be desecrated by short-sighted heretics with no appreciation for the fragility of our world.”
Heresy #4: Debt to the Chaos Gods
The proposed cost of this endeavor—grossly understated, of course—threatens to chain the island to the Chaos Gods of debt for generations. What starts as a ‘modest investment’ will undoubtedly spiral into a black hole of expenditures.
“Even the Hive World Administratum, known for their byzantine inefficiency, would balk at such reckless fiscal planning. How does one finance madness? With the souls of future generations, apparently.”
Meanwhile, in the Shadow of the Spectacle
And where is the Adeptus Arbites—or, more fittingly, the Adeptus Arbitrarius (the Governor)? Silent, Immobile as a bronze cast blue Iguana , as ever. Witnessing this sorry spectacle with the grace of an observer afraid to ruffle feathers.
“Inertia, it seems, is now an official governance strategy. Perhaps the Governor believes that, much like a warp storm, if one simply holds one’s tea steady, the chaos will pass. Unfortunately, in this case, her inertia is more akin to a servitor stuck in an endless feedback loop—motionless, useless, and quietly malfunctioning.”
A Call to the Ordo Xenos
The Adeptus Ridiculous declares:
“This obsession reeks of xeno manipulation! Summon the Ordo Xenos to root out the heretics and cleanse this madness from our world. Let the Emperor’s light shine upon the corruption that festers in the hearts of these so-called leaders.”
The Final Charge: Bring the Astartes!
As the forces of reason and preservation rally, the Adeptus Astartes descend, plasma cannons roaring, to obliterate the illogical heresies plaguing the land.
“No reef shall be paved, no pier shall rise, and no heretic shall escape the purging fire of logic!” declares the Adeptus Ridiculous.
“Citizens of the Imperium, may the Emperor’s light shine upon those who dare to resist this madness. And for the heretics? Only cleansing fire awaits.”
A Call to Action for the Imperium
Citizens of the Imperium, the time to act is now! Let not the heretics desecrate the reefs, squander resources, and doom the island to ruin. Stand firm, demand answers, and wield the Emperor’s light—logic and reason—to pierce the darkness of this folly. Together, we shall banish this madness back to the warp from whence it came!
VOTE NO to the cruise terminal and to any politicians that supports it. We don’t want or need mass tourism and putting future generations of Caymanians in debt and destroying our natural environment.
Save the $2million..
Have NO Referendum on Anything!
No to Pier, Weed and Gambling!
Agree, but the savings will be much more than 2m. We can have a referendum on weed and gambling later. No pier, no port, no EW highway to Breakers and no more deals with Big Daddy D, Big Mac, or other ‘friends and family’ conflicted connections.
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?
After the failed Verdant Isle fiasco, the stakeholders are back with a shiny new tactic. This time, instead of suits and corporate presentations, we’re getting the desperate faces of Caymanians used to sell the idea of a cruise pier. But let’s not kid ourselves—this is just a calculated push to expand the Royal Watler Terminal, conveniently tied to a China Harbour Engineering deal, all under the guise of “public interest.”
The 2006 Auditor General’s Report laid it bare: the Royal Watler project was riddled with governance failures. Yet, here we are again, being asked to trust the same flawed system with $400M+ of public money.
Key Findings from the Report:
• Poor planning and project management: No clear strategy, no financial assessment. Just winging it with taxpayer dollars.
• Flawed procurement process: Overcharges, poorly negotiated contracts, and deals that heavily favored contractors.
• Lack of oversight: The Port Authority Board sidelined management, leaving the project vulnerable to mismanagement.
• Overestimated costs: The terminal could have been built for $4.2 million less—but why save money when you can waste it?
Now we’re being told to trust this same system—without a plan, a budget, or even a basic financial strategy—to deliver a $400M+ pier project? And let’s be honest: any politician pushing a no-info referendum at this point is either clueless or on the take.
Without transparency, accountability, or a shred of competence, this will just be the Royal Watler disaster 2.0—on steroids.
Cayman deserves better than this rinse-and-repeat approach to “progress.”
The auditor general summed it adequately. Nothing has changed.
Thank you Mrs Winspear, you will be missed.
Vote No !
The rush to develop a new cruise port is about the greed of a few politicians and fixers who will deliver billion dollar contracts to developers for a fat fee. It is not the welfare of the Caymanians.
VOTE NO to the cruise terminal and to any politicians that supports it.
And then they will front to bring in China Harbour. This current labor minister has done more to destroy the local construction sector by allowing his friends to bring all kinds of foreign companies to do everything from being the general contractor to doing all the sub trades. The big Hyatt project is a shining example but Dart started it all. Next up is the redevelopment of Treasure Island & Lacovia and then the Beach Bay Mandarin Orient. All for the almighty dollar. Watch if they do not say they got a deal from the Chinese to build the new road but that it will have to be a toll road to help pay off just like they did in Jamaica. Now they will get a lot of support.
“Fat fee”…euphemism for Bribe.
ACT’s campaign today is even worse than the PPM’s efforts back in 2018-2019
No thanks I am voting NO
Too bad you cannot vote in Cayman.
Perhaps you can vote for Trudeau again.
I can, and I vote NO!!
Too bad you cannot vote in Cayman.
But you still have your Jamaican vote
Foolio, Monique Simmons, Big Mac and the crappy PR campaign that lacks substance has exposed the shallowness of the group and hurt ACT’s efforts which is simply an embarrassment.
Cayman will not support ACT or building cruise berthing piers. Expecting the public to support a potential project with not data defines all that is wrong with this project and ACT.
Everybody pushing to sell more T shirts, Cakes , tours and Taxi rides, is not mentioning the cost to Cayman of repaying a minimum $200,000,000 loan plus interest, plus maintenance , so that they can sell more T shirts, cakes, tours and taxi rides.
Which answers the question
“Who will we be building the Cruise port for?”…
Answer
For the few, thereby incurring a massive debt for many.
VOTE NO for cruise berthing piers
VOTE NO for Kenneth Bryan
VOTE NO for McKeeva Bush
VOTE NO for Joey Hew
VOTE NO for Foolio Solomon
VOTE NO for Jon-Jon Seymour
VOTE NO for Ju-Ju from the Brac
VOTE NO for UPM
VOTE NO for PPM
VOTE NO for ACT
VOTE NO for cruise berthing piers
OK, so who are you suggesting we vote for? An honest question.
Just don’t vote lmao
Vote YES to clearing Public Beach of all vendors and restore it for the people of Cayman.
Thank God for CPR Cayman who stay on top of this issue and provide real data to inform the public how their positions are formulated.
Facts matter especially during the silly season.
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…No cruise piers will change that attitude just ask our neighbors in Jamaica.
also the summer is hurricane season?
All the scaremongering is because they want MORE business. Like the rest of us in the business world, make do with what ya got and stop moaning.
ACT have wasted a lot of money and their pr efforts have backfired. Elio and Eugene’s smug approach is not based on anything substantive. Cayman will vote a resounding NO THANKS
ACT are full of ignorant people that spout lies and nonsense instead of sharing data and facts.
Having Foolio as the face of the pro port campaign by ACT immediately kills any credibility of their movement. He is a loud mouth jerk talking pure bollocks. Arrogance is one thing but his ignorance completes this mess.
To make matters worse the support and desperation of Bryan and McKeeva for the project has doomed it from the start.
No cruise pier and clear Public Beach.
You for leader
Impressive, considering only non-waivered hotels and AirBnBs contribute to stay over room taxes, because that was also forfeited by PPM years ago in early NRA giveaways. Drawdown on capped duty waivers wasn’t being tracked by Roy McTaggart, a career accounting professional, even as he held the responsibility to know, as Minister. Much as the UPM might be trying to screw over the public on bogus cruise lobby promises today, the PPM began these rituals with stay-over revenue forfeitures over a decade ago, and still think they should hold district seats. There are individual law firms that contribute more than $38million a year to CIG General Revenue, to illustrates just how insignificant tourism is to running our show.
PPM can never be trusted again to lead this country. Their fate is compounded by having Joey Hew as the PPM leader. PPM work for dart and developers that own Joey so we can never forget the mismanagement by PPM on Election Day 2025.
I would need to see your facts before giving what you say here any credibility rating.
Unlike the obvious and corrupt vote buying of our current minority government, namely, by paying $ 2,000 Christmas bonus to all members of our outrageously large civil service voters, I don’t see any evidence of Joey Hew spending money beyond his pre-political personal income levels, so I don’t see how you can say that he has been “bought” by DART any more than, say, Kenny.
Forelock fire pan you . You not in the street to see how much money they letting go do sushi!
Amount of people who do Airbnb without paying the tax is incredible.
Well, time to tax them all to cover the shortfalls of no cruise pier.
A win-win for all!
Don’t you need a Trade and business license to run an AirBNB?
Pens and pencils should be down on everything until the next government in late April.