Should preference be given to Belizean-owned companies for tourism services?
The exclusive contract between Carnival Cruise Lines and Chukka/Backabush Tours has left the Federation of Cruise Associations of Belize (FECTAB) crying foul. FECTAB says that Chukka/Backabush should not be allowed to hold such a contract in Belize because it is largely owned by foreign interests and the playing field is not friendly to smaller Belizean owned providers. As a result of the controversy, we ask tonight: Should preference be given to Belizean-owned companies in providing tourism services? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com.
Let everyone compete equally. Competition improves the breed. Those who do a bad job or at a bad price will fail AND THEY SHOULD FAIL. “Survival of the fittest” controls the business jungle, too.
When we exclude competition from foreign investors, we deny jobs to Belizean workers, and we drive up prices for everyone — and that creates inflation and LOWERS the value of everyone’s dollar. And that rule applies to all industries and businesses.
Monopolies hurt our economy and they hurt every Belizean — except the privileged “royals” that control them.
Yes! I strongly believe a belizean owned company,should be given preference.It’s about time the ever so far reaching arm of the united states,and europe,with their big bucks,does’nt keep having a strangle hold on our country,and our people,trying to make a better life for their families.
Years ago, I visited the Belize zoo & was impressed with the young man who was our guide. As one of the few Belizeans in the group, I was proud to see how far we had come & more important, that we had young people who were very articulate & professional. Throughout the country, I met small hotel & restaurant owners who were very hospitable, whose facilities were spotless & their help second to none, so I have no doubt that in those areas I did not explore we have the ability to compete & win, we just need to be given the chance.
By the way, the French trained chef Radisson boasted about years ago, could not compete with the Belizean cooks I met along the way. The “chef” butchered lobster, chicken & hamburger & yes stew beans can be destroyed without burning them, had he eaten the great powder buns he made, he would have choked, I almost did.
Of course it should be given preference, if you notice here in Belize, almost all businesses are owned by non Belizeans, soon this country won’t be ours again if GOB keeps giving preferences do outsiders.
Hell yes,we as Belizeans can’t go to another country and get preference over the Citizens of that country.We as Belizeans are the only one who allow foreigners to do what they want to do in our country.
CSME…We want to be in free trade with the rest of the Caribbean so therefore we must upgrade our standards!! If tourist choose Back a bush tours over our regualar tours its becuase they have a certain level of standard that they are lookin for! Not because its owned by non-Belizeans. There are many oppurtunites in Belize and these foreigners see it and come here to test the waters. We at home sit down and get too comfy and when the foreigners come we get mad! Belizeans its time to wake up!!!
The issue regarding our tourism service providers, ought not be if preference is given to Belizean companies – its that all firms get fair treatment. If Belize’s trade policy is one that offers differentiated treatment for foreign companies, then that should be made extremely clear. This is a clear case of trade policy not being explicitly known to all parties involved. Government has a responsibility to protect certain sectors of our economy and needs to show were those preferences are – tour operators is one of those areas that must remains closed to ONLY Belizean firms.
Absolutely yes and not with a blindfold cause they are Belizean owned but for the following reasons.
Belizean owned companies generally take the pride in searching for Belizean talent to hire in their companies VS the common practice in foreighn owned companies who get their employees from abroad.
Belizean employers generally treat their employees with more respect and hardly ever speak with a condescending tone vs what is common practice with people from abroad.
Belize is a young nation with many opportunities in terms of business.
Most of the locals do not have the required capital (funds) to start a business or compete with a business that is owned by foreigners.
It may be the appropriate time for the belize law makers to draft a Belizean Protection Law to keep the local business people from being at a disadvantaged point when it comes to contracts with large international companies.
Belizeans must benefit from all monies made from tourism. If not so, Belize will become a playground for the rich and famous with little or no benefit to our people.FECTAB is only looking out for the best interest of Belizeans.
The experiences I had here with some of tours guide were horrible. Most of them are not reliable and they don’t know how to run a business. But of course you cannot say that……GIVE PREFERENCE TO WHO CAN OFFER A GOOD QUALITY PRODUCT, better if belizean, if not, welcome anyway. Tourism industry need to keep bringing people here and everybody will benefit
ok i also tell unu that this american ambassador we have for belize is also useless has dont nothing for belize since he came here,all he does is make this pm take back all the gang members from the us he makes this pm bring experimental helicopters here so if it falls it falls on a belizean house not a house in the us why hasnt this ambassador offered anyhelp with the crime situation that they are mostly to blame for this pm selling out belize to obama where is your voice amandala you hurry fu talk bout guatemala when ever they do anything to try to harm belize but yet you are silent when the us is messing up the country has offerd no fire arms no police training no forensics equiptment no nothinnnnnnnnnnnnnnn this ambassador use to own 7 11s in colorado and all of a sudden because he donated money to obamas campaign he is now an ambassador i say kick him out also get someone who will help this country and if the us wont do it i say lets get help from russia ,venezuela,or iran they would be happy to help belize with no conditions yes i hope you read this amandala and channel 5 please put this on the tv news so all could see and read.
I’m an American who’s in the process of starting a business in Belize. The service I will provide is not currently being offered by anyone, Belizean or foreign. I business is in tourist industry and I will need to hire around 15 tour guides. I’m puzzled by this debate because those of us(non-Belizeans) who want to spend our Hard Earned money to start a business in Belize, hire Belizeans, help the Belizean economy; are now being told take our money and business someplace else. That’s fine, maybe we will. The standard that the cruiseships demand of tour operaters is very strict and exact. If the folks with FECTAB think that by crying and complaining about big touring companies taking away their livelyhoods, what happens when they stop coming to Belize. Either because no small tour operater can meet their standards or the crime rate continues to grow out of control. Ask our brothers and sisters in Haiti what happens when poor services and crime takes over a country, how fast the cruise ships stop coming.
Rod: you’re totally right keep the fire burning you hitting them real hard.Give some of our brain wash people something to think about.
I went back to Corozal after a fifteen year absent.I’m a trained Chef/Food service Manager.It took me ten years of training and countless jobs with Chefs from around the world to get me to the level that is required in any high end restaurant. I’m still learning everyday new techniques and cuisinesof the world.I started my culinary carrier working as a Dishwasher,Bus-boy,Host,Waiter,Expeditor,Pantry ,Line Cook,Sous Chef,Chef.In order for us as Belizeans to become proficient we need qualified training in order to provide the type of service these companies are looking for.The back of the house would be the place to start.You got to be organized in order to provide food and service in a timely manner,this includes training cooks and waiter to be on the same page.There are three components that is required in order for a food service operation to have a better change at success:great food,timely service,price. We should learn the standards that is required by these companies.People who are paying for a service demand it! people who cannot or are unwilling to provide it should move out of the way and let someone else provide it (opportunity) .
Stafford: For your information we’ve been surviving before you guys came to Belize.By the way you guys don’t help us Belizeans you all rape us.As a result don’t talk as if Belize will fail to exist without your tourist business.
Belize is for Belizeans so they should be the first to get a share of the tourism pie and so contribute to the local economy by spending their dollars at home.
RADICAL rod…………. You are on point!!!!
Stafford…….I am sure as a ligitimate businessman you have done your homework and is well aware of the fact that the vast majority of the tourism based business in Belize is owned and controlled by foreigners. In fact your decision to set up shop in Belize is because you can see all the way to the bottom line and it looks appealing, hence your desire to take the risk.
Let’s be clear on one thing. Well intended Belizeans do not have a problem with competition at the market place be it by Locals or Foreigners when it comes to certain industries. However, when it comes to goods and services that provides livelihood for the small man, then that’s a whole different talk show.
If your intention is to provide a service that is new to the country and will use local staff to do so under the guidelines stipulated by BTIA, then you have nothing to worry about……. just carry on smartly!!
I agree with the person who pointed out that we are part of the Caribbean free trade, and as such we have shape up or ship out. ery few belizean realize what it take to really compete. The many who are talking about it should be for Belizeans, its because they can’t compete and don’t know how to compete properly. We started Bolide and the lotery, Belizeans were sent to jail for it during British rule, and we let foreignors took it away lock stck and barrall. Wake up and stop expect something to fall into your laps. All of the utilitiy companhies could be in the hands of Belizeans if we knew how to put together the company and float shares like Ashcorft does. But we have a monkey see monkey do mentality. Folks step,back and take good stock about this business call tourism, it serious business because it means a lot to governments treasuries around the world.
Now for the mist guided comment about what the American Ambassa. dor should be doing for Belize . You know not of what you speak. When it come to government interacting with other government, behind the seen there is always something given for something to get; no free ride my friend. Our government does not tell us what it is that has to be given up for what they get for so-call help to the host country, but they do not get something for their country without giving up something in return. In reality its not about the governments, its about the multinational companies acting in the shadows through their respective governments. America’s foreign policies are fuel largly by big business through a diplomatic touch. Knowledge is power.