Another burning issue on the news lately is the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Belize and Norwegian Cruise Line. It had come under some heavy criticism by the Federation of Cruise Tourism Association of Belize, FECTAB. Since their condemnation, the PM met with the leaders of the group and today he gave reporters the Government’s perspective on the Norwegian MOU.
RT. HON. DEAN BARROW
“As we did with ASI, there would have to be a legally binding agreement between Government and NCL; so, that’s what I was talking about, it’s a misnomer to call it MOU; we’re moving to a point where there is going to be a legally binding contract and I have promised that some of the things that either weren’t clear or that NCL apparently didn’t’ understand will be reflected in the legally binding contract.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“Is that principally the issue of ships migrating south?”
RT. HON. DEAN BARROW
“Yes, in two ways; there is to be no diversion of the current Belize City calls and there is to be no use of that port by ships other than NCL ships. When I went back I didn’t see that in the MOU; we had made that clear in Cabinet, I don’t know how it didn’t find its way in the MOU but I am saying, I am putting them on notice and it’s not that I am taking them by surprise because this was our position throughout; the binding agreement will make that absolutely clear.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“Well it is a very fundamental change because they are saying they will only use 150 days throughout the year leaving 215 days open for other lines to use it.”
RT. HON. DEAN BARROW
“Well, we were quite clear that that thing is for the exclusive use of Norwegian Cruise Lines. Now, if they come and say, ‘that’s the starting point’ but indeed if we can’t use it all year round and there are other lines that again would not be coming to Belize City in that period that want to use it, we can look at it but I am not sure that we are going to depart from our position because we took well into consideration that they would not be using it all year round; we’re concerned, we want this project but we are concerned about over use, we are concerned about overcrowding. Norwegian wanted two berthing facilities to bring two ships and we said no. Even the 150 days per year multiplied by the number of visitors that they would bring, puts us close to what we believe, at this juncture, at its acceptable limit. While I don’t want to slam the door completely shut, as of now, I will repeat my position that when we get into the formal agreement, we will stick to the position that it is used by Norwegian and no one else; if it is used 150 days per year, so be it and in fact, that might be for the best in terms of not wanting to get into a position where there is overuse.”
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