It should be the beginning of a new future for cruise tourism in Belize but it looks like it's be a full out war as Royal Cruise Caribbean limited has indicated it will challenge government's new deal with its competitor, Carnival Corporation.
Royal Caribbean's Director of Information, Dennis Sheehan today called 7NEWS from Miami to say that his company was shocked to hear that government had signed a deal with Carnival. Shocked because, Sheehan says his company has a legally binding agreement, which says, that it is "mandatory for all cruise ships visiting the Belize District to use the tourism village to gain access into and out of the Belize District." With this airtight clause, Sheehan says that the Carnival agreement is in direct violation of their agreement.
With that, Royal Caribbean this afternoon fired off a letter to the Prime Minister to demand that government exercise the integrity to comply with the agreement.
Speaking on the issue at yesterday's groundbreaking Prime Minister Hon. Said Musa said that circumstances change and that he expects no conflict. Now that there is a clear conflict, Royal Caribbean says it reserves its rights to pursue remedial measures but Communications Director Sheehan came short of saying that his company would sue the government.