And one man that’s equally unflappable is Luke Espat. Through all the hype and hostility about Stake Bank and Belize Cruise Terminal – he’s been uncharacteristically quiet. But today we asked him what he thinks about Royal Caribbean’s declaration, and what is the general state of play in the war for Belize’s first cruise terminal.
Luke Espat,
“I think the Prime Minister said it all earlier, ‘calmer minds will prevail and I don’t know how you came about your documentation but yes there are correspondences between Mr. Courtenay and foreign counsel with Royal Caribbean about their involvement in, interference with the interests of Port of Belize and Belize Ports. We will and have done everything in our power to protect our interests. As I said to you, calmer minds will prevail and the Belize Ports have protected their interests in all fronts. We are sure that a solution is imminent. There is calm. We are calm and Belize will benefit in the end.”
And while Espat’s moderate language hints at an imminent compromise between Stake Bank and the Belize Cruise Terminal, there is still a competition between personalities of Espat and Feinstein and projects.
Luke Espat,
“In my mind, government has gotten involved, we have met and I think both parties and the government understand that in the best interest of the country, only one port as a definitive port will survive and its definitely more practical to have it on the mainland.”
Jules Vasquez,
In 2009 when the Genesis Class cruise ships start arriving, where will they dock?
Luke Espat,
“Well they will dock at the Port of Belize, that’s where they are supposed to dock.”
Jules Vasquez,
So they won’t be docking at a cruise terminal at Stake Bank?
Luke Espat,
“I am sure they will not.”
Jules Vasquez,
Privately, principal players in government have indicated their preference for a Stake Bank Project. I’ve heard this repeated many times that it’s a more desirable location to have cruise visitors arrive to a beautiful island setting rather than arrive, their interpretation, not mine, in Port Loyola.
Luke Espat,
“The distance to me at an island is not practical because of just the unloading time. While they can benefit economically from those ships coming to Belize that only have 7 hours which given the fact to the strategic location being ashore, that they can come and enjoy all the tours that they want. It is not just a matter of coming to Belize, it is a matter of enjoying all the tour facilities that are available in Belize. And not only that, being onshore what will happen? The entire Port Loyola Area will develop. I assure you in ten years time you won’t know the Port Loyola that exists now.”
Jules Vasquez,
But it was my feeling and it has been my feeling throughout that the government was playing favorites. This is what players in the government have told me; Luke isn’t serious. Luke is, while not running a game, Luke is not a serious developer. Mike Feinstein they say is a serious developer, he gets things done. Luke, they say, talks about getting things done but the things don’t really happen. This is what they say.
Luke Espat,
“Again I won’t comment on where you want to go but I can say this, I think it’s not about talking, it’s about looking at where we are. Luke will do what has to be done and Luke will not compromise what has to be done and Luke will hold you to any commitments you have made. Again its not about personalities, it is about development, developing this country. We are doing it. You can go to the Port and you can look at what was there and what is there and then let who wants to decide look at the facts. This thing is about the facts, not talk. Not talk and I think I hold you all as the media responsible because how much times have you taken the effort to go back there and have a look as to where we are because its more sensational for you to say what is being talked.”
Jules Vasquez,
Well if it had been finished when you said it would, we would have gone but it wasn’t finished as promise for November 2007.
Luke Espat,
“Well again you knew the mountains. We have passed that stage now.”
And a mountain is just what Espat has put into the ground at the cruise terminal. We took up his challenge and visited today. While still a very long way from the finished product, as captured in these artist’s renderings – the project has come a long way. All that you see here adjoining the Jane Usher
Boulevard used to be swamp and Espat says, over 300 acres that have been filled. But that is an ancillary development; the heart of it is the cruise terminal itself – and the pier which will be in this vast area. That platform is connected to the mainland by two roads that extend about half a mile to what will be the terminal. The road is built over the sea and lies on 17 feet of fill.
All told the terminal and the road will use well over a million cubic yards of fill to create the 9 acre platform. An upscale shopping complex will be built in this area and this space is for 100 busses to park. The plan is for four
cruise ships to dock at two 900 foot piers denoted right now by these flags.
Luke Espat,
“What you’re looking at if you look at this eastern end of the facility where you see the cruise ship out there is that this is where the terminal will be, this is where the shops that are for rent only, and onshore is where
other developers can come in, purchase land, and build their own development to complement the free zone.”
Jules Vasquez,
What’s the dollar figure?
Luke Espat,
“Well I think we have passed, the last time I was told we had spent almost US$8 million already.”
Jules Vasquez,
Luke you don’t have US$8 million, whose money is this?
Luke Espat,
“As I told you the last time, you stick to your business and I will stick to mine. The Port of Belize, Belize Ports, we have raised enough capital to do this project. We have the necessary guarantees to make it work.”
Jules Vasquez,
Is Michael Ashcroft financing?
Luke Espat,
“He is a part of it, he’s a partner but it’s a company doing it and that we will prefer to leave that way as we have always said to you.”
Jules Vasquez,
The critics have said that you aren’t serious and you haven’t gotten on with what you need to be getting on with. But looking at it here, it's far more advanced than Stake Bank.
Luke Espat,
“Oh definitely, construction starts here very soon. The architects are, we shared earlier what was the final concept. Its not the public launching of it of course and as we had agreed to answer your questions today, I shared with you what you can show. But it's all ready to go and construction arrangements are in place right now.”
He says arrangements are in place but the Genesis Class dock is required for the high season in November of 2009 – can this development be ready by then.
Jules Vasquez,
We’re two years away from when we need to have a pier out there that can accept a cruise ship. Honestly Luke, straight up, is this achievable?
Luke Espat,
“Yes it is achievable.”
Jules Vasquez,
I’ll hold you to that.
Luke Espat,
“Of course you’ve always held me to things and we’re still here.”
Again, as we alluded to in the story, we are told very serious negotiations continue between Feinstein and the financiers for the Espat project but, at this point, best information suggests that nothing has been resolved.
