Right after the Mayor's press conference, we spoke with the Minister of Tourism, Godfrey Smith. He told us that the industry cannot afford the kind of black eye that mass street closures would give it.
Godfrey Smith, Minister of Tourism
"For the Mayor and her team to say unless we get the head tax we will take steps that would bring about the collapse of the cruise industry, I think is most unfortunate if that is what in fact they intend to set about. As we all know the cruise industry is the only real game in town, it is where the action is. It is the economic generator for Belize City and to toy around and play around with that and to issue threats, and whether it be to take your equipment as we understand their plan is, to take their city council equipment, block off the streets and to prevent buses and tours from coming in and out of the village really hurts the small people, all the people who earn, well small and large and in between. Everyone who earns their livelihood off the tour industry stands to be affected. So I think reason, most of all, needs to prevail. Nobody should take any precipitous action that would not hurt the government or the opposition but the people of Belize, the stakeholders involved in the cruise industry."
Jules Vasquez,
If precipitous actions proceed, as you have intelligence that they may, road blockages etc.
Godfrey Smith,
"The security forces are prepared to deal with matters according to their standard protocols of operations."
Of course, the backdrop to all this is that last year when the issue first flared up, the Tourism Board and the Council signed a memorandum of understanding to assist the council with over a million dollars, but it was programme money, meaning the council had to meet certain project targets to get the money. Today the Mayor said that was unacceptable.
Zenaida Moya,
"Whatever MOU was signed, when they will dictate to us what we must and can do with the money, we take offense to that. This Belize City Council is an elected body. We do not feel that we should be receiving a portion of what the BTB feels they should give us. So what gives them the right to dictate how much money this elected body should receive? I believe that the Minister of Finance, the House of Representatives or Cabinet should be given that right, it shouldn't be any director of
BTB."
Godfrey Smith,
"I think it is not fair or is it tenable for the Mayor or anybody on that side to say that 'we've exhausted all these things and we are tired of talking' because up to last month, up to several weeks ago, we had a program of cooperation that was working. If they have shifted the goalposts they need to come forth and say so very plainly that they want out of that old agreement and they are launching the this new campaign. Have they tried to meet with central government, representatives to discuss this matter over the past few weeks? I am not aware that that has been the case."
Jules Vasquez,
Is the head tax negotiable now, is that the position?
Godfrey Smith,
"I am not in a position quite honestly to say whether it is but some sort of assistance has always been negotiable."
Jules Vasquez,
Looking at it, at the most basic principle, should not the city council be entitled a portion of a head tax which is charged to visitors to this city?
Godfrey Smith,
"I don't know that I'd say a portion of the head tax, I don't know if I would say a portion of the head tax. I would certainly say that the city should have monies to be able to keep the streets in good condition and all the various amenities that are needed to attract and sustain visitors coming to Belize."
At this hour, Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow is meeting with the Mayor to try and see if some compromise can be reached. Tourism Minister Smith said that he this evening told Barrow that the BTB would be happy to continue with the MOU, and Barrow was content with that. But as you just heard, the mayor isn't! The late evening meetings are about just that and right now our Keith Swift is posted at City Hall, waiting for news of how the Barrow meeting went. As soon as anything breaks, he'll have it for us.
