Once Approved, Cruise Port will be Completed by 2023
Whereas a cruise terminal is constructed adjacent to a port, Dr. Chamberlain-Miranda points to other countries and tourism destinations where such facilities coexist harmoniously. The project, once given the green light is set to be completed by 2023. According to Chamberlain-Miranda, Belize will be required to have docking facilities on land in order to do away with the risky nature of tendering visitors over water.
Dr. Dionne Chamberlain-Miranda, Chamberlain Consultancy Ltd.
Dr. Dionne Chamberlain-Miranda
“I also want you to realize that many persons are concerned about a cruise and cargo port successfully co-existing; however, that is a norm and an example of that is in Port Miami and in other Caribbean countries as well and you can check these out online. In fact, it is very important for both of them to coexist so that they can meet the economic and social requirements for a project to remain sustainable. Remember, sustainability means that we’re able to continue into perpetuity and provide the benefits to the society well beyond the project’s startup. The project is one of the very few cruise projects to continue to receive strong cruise line support in the current environment and within COVID-19 we know that many of the cruise lines have had to pause their services. However, we have executed letters of intention from these cruise lines stating that they are committed to this project which means that once this is built we actually have cruise lines that have committed to working with us which means that the economy of Belize will be able to rebound with jobs from the construction phase all the way through into developing it as a tourism product. This project will be delivered in 2023 and I want you to realize that come 2023 only berthing ports will be utilized as being requested by the cruise lines based on the fact that due to COVID-19 they will not be able to tender masses of people off into small boats and tender facilities. For our health and safety, they need to walk off healthily off of a ship on their own so that there is no issue with contamination throughout a tendering process.”
