Port deal now on table
(CNS): Over six months after government’s announcement that it was planning to sign an MOU with Dart regarding the development of cruise berthing facilities the Premier will be announcing the details of the agreement today. (Thursday 15 April). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will pave the way for DECCO to partner with the Port Authority to build two finger piers in George Town Harbour as well as the land terminal has now been approved by Cabinet. In November last year the government approved DECCO as the potential development partner to finance as well as build the facility since then the port and DECCO have been in negotiations with the cruise lines on how it will recoup its investment.
McKeeva Bush is expected to reveal the outline of what is a non–binding memorandum of understanding with DECCO and the Florida–Caribbean Cruise Association this morning at a government press briefing.
During the six month period there was speculation that DECCO was pulling out of the project but in February Stefan Baraud, told CNS that while not everything had been resolved at that point with regards what he described as the many moving parts to the negotiations, he said the goal was to sign the MOU before the end of the first quarter of 2010 with a view to breaking ground before the end of the year.
The project will be a private finance initiative and it is not expected to require any capital investment from government but there are big hopes it will provide a welcome boost to tourism sector and the economy in general.
There are however, still some concerns regarding the environmental impact and while government officials have said a study is being undertaken to ensure the protection of Seven Mile Beach some are concerned that the effect of the development on George Town and the surrounding area has not been properly considered.
If the project does go ahead it will be the Cayman Islands’ largest ever public-private partnership infrastructure development which will provide berthing for four ships including the new generation of mega cruise ships along with an upland retail development at the new terminal.
With no money in government coffers once elected to office the UDP administration committed to building the facility with a private partner who will finance the project and aim to recoup that major investment through a combination of cruise passenger fees negotiated with the cruise lines and the terminal’s retail facilities.
Check back to CNS later today for full details of the MOU.
Category: Local News
Yacht Basin, Oil Refinery, Airport soon to come in EE. The Premier means business, the man does what he says. He is like a Mac truck gets right down to business and aint no stopping him now. Go Mac, Go!
Am all for this devlop.
The day it is announced that the Auditor General has been sent packing is the same day the port deal is announced and some limited information relating to the new hospital is floated. Coincidece of course…….
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! That what ya all get. Unna wanted UDP, well you get UDP, I hope unna enjoying it. Ahhhhhhhhhh! It hurts!
Sound like ya belly gonna burst!
That is the biggest concern( the environmental impact study) EVERYONE should have for if this impacts the 7 Mile Beach area it will not be able to be put back.I hope that the plans will be made public BEFORE any construction begins so that any objections can be put forward.It will be highly interesting to see how ships that will be calling over the building time frame will be be handled as far as how and where they will come ashore.My concern is that the arriving ships will be pushed further along to the north hence adding to the already badly damaged areas.One last thought if the Decco folks want more space to build shops etc where the hell are the cruisers going to snorkle if a lot of those reefs are taken out completely.MR.Bush those reefs are not dead as you have been advised and if you take them out where will you put all those folks that come to see what we have?Right now they leave satisfied with what they have seen.Maybe we should take you on a dive so that you can see what you will be taking away from future generations and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you would see down there.
This project really concerns me and I hope an Environmental Impact Assessment is done as I can see the seven mile beach sand being deposited into the dredged pot hole around the berthing facility to facilitate the cruise ship berthing.
I really hope the Department of Environment is given a free hand to object as necessary.
The potential downside to this project’s destruction to seven mile beach could be devastating to the country.
I’m happy that the Dart group will be undertaking the development of the cruise berthing facilities because this means that it will be done right and to the highest standard.
Why would additional land terminal facilities be required? Especially additional retail space.
"non-binding"……speaks volumes……