And while Belize has only one functioning commercial cruise port - there are plans for at least four more! Of course, turning plans into projects has proven difficult for the last 15 years or so...
As we told you last night, there's another one on the horizon called the Southern Deep Port Development Facility Bill. That's going to the house next Thursday for a long list of tax exemptions and duties.
The project - which reportedly has some high level political operators involved - is reportedly being groomed to attract investors.
When talk of a Commerce Bight Port in Dangriga first came up in 2022 - we asked the area rep, Louis Zabaneh about what it might entail. He outlined the project which is being spearheaded by his cousin:
Dr Louis Zabaneh, Area Rep, Dangriga
"For us here in Dangriga, that has already been aired out long ago. People already know that Mr Basilio Zabaneh who is putting up this proposal has been a very vibrant member of this community, is the largest employer as we speak, so we had this discussion on local media here in Dangriga with the Southern Workers Union and others who are fully supporting Mr Basilio who has been, as I said, a very major contributor to the development of Dangriga."
"The government has looked- there's a process, so people who have applied with interest, there's a process it goes first to the Belize Ports Authority then it goes to the minister and from there, it ends up going to the House of Representatives because I believe it's a project that's over two million dollars so these are the steps that we need to take that were not taken by the previous people who were there. So you have these various departments, entities, who will have to do their part."
Courtney Menzies:
"But doesn't the Norwegian Cruise Line have the monopoly on cruise ports here in the south?"
Dr Louis Zabaneh, Area Rep, Dangriga
"As far as we understand it, this project will be for small cruise ships which fall way below the number of persons per boat, so we're talking here about 100 to, say, 500 persons per boat so that's below the radar so to speak for the big guys. But very relevant for Dangriga, for our interest here in continuing to develop our tourism product. The people who come on small cruise ships usually spend 5,6 times more than those who come on the large ships, they stay longer, they're looking for quality service, things that are going to be meaningful for people who are offering those services to them."
We'll let you know what's in the exemptions package when it goes to the House next Thursday.
Email
Print