The People’s United Party deplores the incompetence and lack of direction displayed by the Barrow administration in putting at risk the jobs and future livelihood of hundreds of Belizeans who make an honest living servicing the cruiseship industry.

The present uncertainty surrounding the future of the industry is a clear indication of the lack of a defined policy for the regulation of the industry for the mutual benefit of the cruiseship companies and the Belizean workers in the industry.

To add insult to injury, the action, or inaction in this case, by the Barrow government seems geared to promote the self-interest of a few privileged UDP supporters at the expense of the majority of workers and to the detriment of our national interest. Credible allegations have arisen that a senior government official with close ties to the Prime Minister had negotiated with the cruise ship companies for the operation of 150-seater tenders for the transportation of tourists from ship to shore.  These negotiations resulted in the cruiseship companies raising the bar to include excessively high demands, including a requirement of $2 million dollars’ worth of insurance on each tender, effectively excluding local Belizean tender operators who have made major investments in tender operations and now face financial and economic hardship.

The so-called intervention of Mr. Barrow, described in his propaganda newspaper as ‘Another Industry Saved,’ was an empty shell.  To date there has been no comfort for the troubled industry. Now the Prime Minister is telling the tender operators to work out their own problems, and that his government stands ready to assist - not to lead; not to solve the problem; not to commit to maintaining the industry on a level playing field for the benefit of the hundreds of Belizeans who earn a pittance compared to the giant share reaped by the cruiseship companies.

The Prime Minister’s arrogance in trying to personally ‘negotiate’ with the giants in the cruiseship industry not only put the industry in Belize in jeopardy, but resulted in a major embarrassment to our national pride with the recent declaration of certain cruise lines to by-pass Belize.

The People’s United Party holds the strong conviction that the cruiseship industry should serve the country and not the other way around.  The next PUP government is determined and equipped to restore the tourism industry to its appropriate place as a major contributor to our national economy - an industry that works with and for the Belizean people, and contributes to the wealth and well-being of the nation and its hard-working people.