7 News Belize

Barrow Met With Royal Caribbean, Feinstein Next
posted (May 14, 2015)
As we told you earlier, the Prime Minister returned from Miami today. He went there to meet with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the co-owners of the Fort Street Tourism village.

He's still trying to find a way forward for the cruise future of Belize District. On one side, there's Mike Feinstein who has a plan to build the Stake Bank project. On the other is Royal Caribbean cruise line and Diamonds International which owns the Fort Street Tourism village. They have been guaranteed a certain amount of head tax right through to the year 2028. The Prime Minister has been doing some shuttle diplomacy trying to find common ground. Today he suggested that things may be budging in the right direction:...

Jules Vasquez
"Is there any clarity on the way forward?"

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well, the talks were instructive and certain proposals were discussed, but I don't want to say too much really because I have a meeting set for tomorrow at 3 with Mr. Feinstein."

Jules Vasquez
"However, I would imagine the central non-negotiable point is that FSTV has an agreement up until 2027/28 and if they stop receiving head tax, the government would be liable."

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I don't know about that. I have legal opinions that speaks to the contrary. And I am saying I want to try to forge some sort of a compromise, because if we end up in a fight with RCCL, it is the easiest thing for them to simply pick up their marbles and leave while awaiting the outcome of any court case. That's not going to be in the interest of the country. It's not going to be the interest of Mr. Feinstein if he is to build the port. You need the throughput and Royal Caribbean is substantial in that regard. So, we are nowhere near to reaching a point where I would be prepared to say to RCCL 'you know what, we are simply going to parliament and pass some sort of a law that would free us from what you RCCL see as our contractual obligations.' We are nowhere to reaching that point. I hope we never get to that point and I will therefore continue to work to get the two sides together. I think that based on what I heard yesterday and hopefully based on what I will hear tomorrow, there may be a way forward. I believe that we can with the right amount of goodwill, the right amount of effort, try to put them back on track so that we might be able to do this in an atmosphere of co-existence and perhaps even partnership."

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