It has not been publicly announced but reports this evening say that the Prime Minister and the Leader of Government Business are in Miami conducting meetings with a group called SSA Marine, a cruise terminal developer and operator.
This is in regards to the plan to develop the cruise terminal and bulk cargo facilities at the Port of Belize which was fast-tracked after receiving environmental approval one month ago.
Priced at almost one billion dollars, it would be the largest single tourism project in the country's history - and overnight tourism interests are watching it closely.
Last week, the President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association - which represents overnight interest - said that they have not yet come up with a formal position on it:
Efren Perez, President, BTIA
"I mean we looked at the proposals that were sent in. As a board we have not really put out any formal position on it and like I mentioned earlier the need for infrastructure needs to be in place. But that also needs to be aligned with areas of conservation because Belize depends highly on tourism right and so we cannot exploit certain areas because then we cut down on you know our guests being able to visit these locations, like for example mangroves and the wildlife that lives within that, you know the protection of our barrier reef and all of these things are essential for the sustainable growth. Port tourism, certainly we applaud the infrastructure work being down by government but it has to be align to the conservation of these areas."
