When the original Carnival contract was signed in April, no one had seen it, and no one had been consulted. Since then, much has changed as that once secret contract has become one of the most commonly accessed, widely read and openly criticized documents. That broad-based uproar coupled with a red light from Cabinet forced government back to the table with Carnival and they signed a renegotiated contract with 12 clarification clauses on Friday afternoon in Belmopan.
Today, Tourism Minister Mark Espat who was the point man on this second round of negotiations told us how the new agreement improves on the old one.
Hon. Mark Espat, Minister of Tourism
"There are several major issues from the master contract, if I can call it that, that are being addressed. First of course is making the Belize Tourism Board a party to the agreement and recognizing the regulatory role that the BTB plays. The second is the issue of employment for Belizeans, for Belizean individuals and Belizean companies to which the company now commits to employing Belizeans. Third is recognizing that there is a process for applying for licenses and Carnival will be subject to that process. There is a limit on the number of passengers that can come to Belize everyday though that limit will increase as we have new capacity and new destinations but there is a process by which those limits are set. There is a guaranteed number of passengers that Carnival will bring each year at 500,000 passengers. I think those are some of the major things that are addressed. And in addition we have moved up by 4 months the new head tax from the end of April to January 1st of 2005 so there will be additional revenue as well for the Tourism Board as well as the Protected Areas Conservation Trust."
Keith Swift,
A month ago Minister in an interview you told me you were trying to get the best deal for Belize? Is this clarified contract the best deal?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"Keith the process of negotiation is always one where you give and take. I believe that my outlook now is to the future. We have a master agreement and we have a clarification agreement. As Carnival acknowledged in our meeting on Friday, the ball is now in their court. We want a facility that they and Belize can be proud of. We want one that can ensure that Belizeans have jobs during the construction as well as when the facility is operating. The Cruise Industry Association has underscored the importance of having access to this facility for tour guides, tour operators, taxi drivers, for small shop owners etc. Those are things that are now in their court. We will try to do our part to ensure that the road ahead is as smooth as possible."
Keith Swift,
Now Minister you had the BTIA and I think also the hotel association who rallied behind you in your opposition to certain clauses in the contract. Now that you have helped reworked it and clarified it, how are you going to call them off? Just last week they launched a judicial challenge to the contract.
Hon. Mark Espat,
"Well Keith let me just be clear that the negotiations that we have undertaken over the last two and a half months were first at the direction of the Cabinet. The Cabinet reviewed the contract and they were certain clauses that they sought to negotiate and we've tried to do so within that mandate. Secondly we did not call on BTIA. We respect the right of every individual, I certainly do of any individual or any institution, to seek redress in the courts."
Keith Swift,
But you are now confident that this clarified contract will withstand any judicial challenge?
Hon. Mark Espat,
"That's for the courts to decide Keith. I am not in a position to say whether it can or can't."