How far will Royal Caribbean Cruise line go to protect its exclusive license at the Fort Point Tourism Village?
Well, 7NEWS has confirmed that Luis Leon, Royal Caribbean's Executive Vice-President wrote to the prime minister on Friday, telling him that if government refuses to honor its contractual commitment to his company, their ships will stop coming to Belize.
It's hard talk, but indications from top sources within government are that the Musa administration won't blink and will hold to the stance that Royal Caribbean has too much to lose by pulling out of such a popular destination.
But, at this point, it's a Mexican standoff and Leon ends his letter by telling the prime minister that he has full expectations that the government will honor its commitment. Honoring that commitment at this point would mean nixing the US $50 million Carnival Cruise Terminal Project, which conflicts directly with the 15-year exclusive license government transferred to Royal Caribbean less than a year ago - when it bought the Tourism Village from Michael Feinstein for US $18 million most of that for the value of the exclusive contract which is now in jeopardy.