10 Days ago, we gave you a look - albeit from a distance - at the ongoing development on Harvest Caye. That's where Norwegian Cruise Line is building its 100 million-dollar cruise port and docking facility. That project will bring mass cruise tourism to Southern Belize, and the official deadline for its opening is February 2016. So, is NCL still on schedule with that timeline? This weekend we asked BTB's Destination and Cruise Tourism Director about it - here's what he said:
Daniel Ortiz
"Are we still on schedule for February 2016 opening of Harvest Caye?"
Valdemar Andrade - Director, Destination Planning & Cruise, BTB
"Yes. As far as the last conversation I had with the director of port operations Mr. Colin Murphy from NCL, yes. We are still on target for February of 2016. I think all the aspects on the island are on target. We are also working with the tour operation side of it. We are now having the detailed discussions as to what kind of tours they will be having there and being able to get those on target as well. So from our side and in terms of the cruise calls we have secured from that port, yes, everything is set for February 2016."
Daniel Ortiz
"We know that the conservationist community is always vigilant and they want to make sure that NCL is environmentally conscious and careful. Are there any sort of oversight mechanisms to make sure that no damage is done to the patch reef systems around Harvest Caye?"
Valdemar Andrade - Director, Destination Planning & Cruise, BTB
"Basically that is one of the reasons why BTB also looks at which tours will be going out, what will be the details of those tours. We work with the other agencies who are from the natural resource management standpoint like the Department of the Environment, Fisheries, Forestry to be able to ensure that those areas and also our stakeholders in the Placencia area, to ensure that the tour guides operate from a sustainable management and development point of view."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is there any sort of oversight in terms of their construction to make sure, because just from our observation, the beach that they are building is a few hundred yards or so away from patch reef systems. Is there like on site oversight from the government to make sure that those reef systems are protected?"
Valdemar Andrade - Director, Destination Planning & Cruise, BTB
"We have an ad-hoc ports committee where all the agencies are represented and from the reports that have been tabled at those, yes. The Department of Environment has by month oversight of that area to ensure that there are no major issues in terms of the management of the natural resources. Because it is an area close to the marine ecosystems. We have to ensure that all of those systems are protected."
While the different tourism interests wait until the facility is completed, the attorneys for the Government, NCL, and the Belize Tourism Industry Association are awaiting Justice Courtney Abel's decision. He will decide whether or not the Department of Environment fast-tracked the project by taking shortcuts to the environmental laws.
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