Caves Branch it’s the probably top earning site for NICH, the National Institute of Culture and History. And that’s why an agreement between NICH and a private developer has raised eyebrows and concerns in some quarters of the tourism sector.
The proposal from Cruise Solutions David Gegg was approved in July with this letter from NICH President Diane Haylock. It approves the construction of a Restaurant with Cave Tubing Services; later in the agreement it is referred to as a concession facility. It includes restaurants and gift shops. The terms of the five page agreement are straightforward; Cruise Solutions will pay sixty thousand dollars a year for ten years and at the end of that period, hand the facility over to NICH.
Cruise Solutions is also compelled to build an area for local community operators and pay full admission for all of its own guests. And that’s what some are concerned about. Will access be ensured for other operators, particularly those who compete with Cruise Solutions? It’s not a minor question considering that Cave’s Branch is possibly the number one site for cruise visitors.
But getting answers has proved difficult. When we reached NICH President Dianne Haylock who signed the contract, she told us flatly that she had no comment. We were unable to get any response from Minister of Culture Marcel Cardona.
