During today's House meeting the cruise ship port development project bill was passed giving a green light and government granted god-speed to the Carnival cruise terminal project. Minister of Tourism Mark Espat who fought the Carnival agreement in its original form, today stood up in the House to offer his support for the revised agreement and the bill that goes along with it. Today Espat addressed those critics of the clarified contract.
Hon. Mark Espat,
"Still there are those in the tourism industry who feel that these amendments d not go far enough in addressing their major concerns. As long as their respectful of the government's right, indeed of our government's obligation to attract beneficial foreign investment as part of our economic program, we will be respectful to their rights to test our action. We are satisfied that the amendments safeguard the government's ability to manage the cruise ship industry's growth for the benefit of Belize and the benefit of Belizeans. I have encouraged our private sector partners to adopt this position too. And so I support the incentives provided with development this way because these incentives are designed to facilitate the $100 million investment that their consortium has proposed for Belize City. Our industry is honored that our country and people are worthy of a project of this magnitude and I want to give our assurance that government has done its analysis and this analysis shows that the project is in our favor."
As 7NEWS has reported, the Belize Tourism Industry Association's request for an injunction against the government's passing of the bill was adjourned until this coming Monday.