ACT CALLS FOR ACTION ON CRUISE PIER

The matter of the cruise pier, which seems to have gone adrift in the election campaign along with the other two questions in the April 30th referendum, is finally making its presence felt.

At a spirited town hall meeting at South Sound Community Center former parliamentarian Ellio Solomon made the case for building the facility during a community meeting organised by the pro-cruise-pier Association for Cruise Tourism(ACT).

Moderated by panellists Tim Adam, Joseph Woods, and Noel March, the gathering provided a platform for a mixture of passionate advocacy and some lingering questions.

Framing the issue as a defining moment for the country’s tourism industry and long-term development, Mr Solomon, ACT’s Executive Program Manager, described opposition to the cruise pier as driven by emotion, misinformation and vested interests.

Unsurprisingly, environmental concerns dominated much of the debate. Historically, opposition to berthing facilities has centred on fears of coral reef destruction. However according to Mr Solomon, ACT’s investigation has shown that the seabed of the harbour is more of a “moonscape” rather than a vibrant coral ecosystem.

He also said that anchored ships currently pose a greater threat to coral reefs, highlighting a 2014 incident in which a cruise ship destroyed 16,000 square feet of coral with its anchor. “If you care about the Cayman environment, you will support a system where ships dock safely without harming the reefs.”

The ACT campaigner also argued that continuing with anchor-based tendering poses far greater risks to the environment, noting that thousands of square feet of coral have been destroyed in the Cayman Islands by anchoring.

Calling the tender system outdated, inaccessible and contributing to the environmental disequilibrium, he said: “Getting on a boat like this, rocking, is not a good customer experience…We are hurting because (some) people can’t come off that ship.”

Taking aim at the economic implications, Solomon pointed out that Cayman’s use of tenders comes with a high opportunity cost, as cruise passenger spending is limited by the short time spent onshore. He suggested that more time would result in more revenue, calling it “just good business.”

He also called out what he sees as the real opposition: the tender business. “If you want to know in part where the argument’s coming from, follow the money,” he added.

Mr Solomon made it clear that a “yes” vote would not give the government carte blanche to act recklessly. “No government given such a mandate would act arbitrarily,” he reassured the audience.

Drawing parallels to the Progressives’ approach in 2019, he emphasized that a comprehensive plan would be developed, with numerous town hall meetings to ensure public input. “The result would be a project productive for the country.”

He believes the island cannot remain static and emphasises that development – including cruise berthing infrastructure – is essential to Cayman’s future.

The event featured a panel including former Acting Director of the Cayman Islands Port Authority Joseph “Joey” Woods, former Cayman Turtle Center CEO Tim Adam, and local entrepreneur Noel March. The panel echoed Solomon’s call to action and answered community questions in a robust discussion.

The other two questions in the referendum; a national lottery and decriminalisation of cannabis, are yet to make an impact in the ongoing election campaign. The referendum will be included on the ballot for the April 30th general election.