Local tour guides protected, but will CSME countries accept it?
Cruise tourism is a multimillion dollar industry that is powerful enough to sway the economy. Any major interference such as an international terrorism threat or a natural disaster can topple this important income earner which is a key source of foreign exchange. But this week, the industry had a local controversy that may now create an international stir. Since local tour operators complained about the Carnival Cruise Line contract with BakaBush Adventures Limited, which is partially owned by a Jamaican company, officials were obligated to scrutinize other complaints by the guides, including allegations that BakaBush did not pay entrance fees to one site and moreover, it may want to import foreign guides into the country. This afternoon at the House of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, signed a statutory instrument that would stop any company from hiring foreigners. This move, though applauded locally may upset CARICOM countries that signed onto the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME), which allows for the free flow of skilled workers. Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The Ministry of Tourism, the National Institute of Culture and History along with the Belize Tourism Board held a joint press conference to announce a solution to the problems in the industry which many guides vocally protested against.
Seleni Matus, Director, BTB“This week has been filled with headlines and many stories pointing really at government’s inadequate response. We’re here to say that we totally and fully recognize the issues that industry and this sector in particular is confronting. It is a difficult time. This entire issue we’re facing currently with claims against the imbalance that foreign investment creates is something that resonates across sectors, that’s much broader than tourism.”
Although the issues stretch across industries, BTB, NICH and the ministry believe they have fixed this particular issue at Caves Branch. A loophole in the system allowed Bakabush Adventure Limited to enter Caves Branch without paying any fees. They signed a statutory instrument declaring Nohoch Che’ en (Caves Branch) an Archeological Reserve.
diane haylock
Dianne Haylock, President, NICH
“We were able to able to carve out a portion of land that would allow us to declare this cave system a reserve that is purely government land. And it took us a while to get that done. Then after that was done, you had to then go through the process of having the solicitor general do its work. Our guys at archaeology did all the work they had to do. From last week we knew that this SI would have been signed this week because that was the last conversation we had with the SolGen office. The person who was responsible for it was on vacation leave and that’s the reason it was not signed two weeks ago.”
Seleni Matus
“To amend the SI for licensing tour guides to include a provision that would ensure that tour guides are only licensed if they are legally resident in Belize for ten years. So that would meet the requirements and we’ve done the research to ensure that it is aligned and can be done given our participation in the CSME.
Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism“The Caribbean single market thing, there is an agreement with all the CARICOM countries. But in all the other countries, if you look around you will find that there is some protectionism into something that is the bigger bread and butter of the country. In this case, tourism not only is governments priority, but it is a big bread and butter in Foreign Affairs. So definitely, as a responsible government, we have to find a way or look into ways as to how best to address the issue to protect our local tour guides. If you recall, I didn’t mention tour operators because that is more of development so we do encourage development in that section.”
steven rowland
Steven Rowland, President Belize Cruise ship Taxi Association
“I believe it’s fair. What is good for on is good for all, definitely.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now even though you may agree, are there other things that your association would like BTB or the ministry to look into?”
Steven Rowland
“As we stated to them earlier this week that with all this increase in relation to the parks and stuff like that, we believe that the Cave Branch road definitely needs to be fixed as well as the Alton Ha road because our vehicles are paying a high toll in terms of cost of maintenance to repair our damage as we go along on that road.”
Jose Sanchez
“Okay, and regarding having only tour guides who have lived in the country at least ten years, that also brings a smile to your faces.”
Steven Rowland
“Of course, that is very good. We need to protect our industry yes.”
And “Protect the industry” also means providing an alternative for tourists who don’t book tours.
Seleni Matus
“We know that about fifty-eight percent of all cruise passengers get off that ship and do not have an organized tour. And so we know for a fact—we just completed our analysis—that we are losing on an annual basis close to fifty million dollars because of the poor presentation that we have as our destination. So in terms of the Belize Tourism Board, we are looking to launch a pretty aggressive initiative that’s looking to increase order outside of the Fort Street Tourism Village so as to ensure that a broader group of our local entrepreneurs; both medium and small are benefitting from cruise tourism.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
manuel heredia
seleni matus
So you guys are capable of doing your jobs when Belizeans scream loud enough. Just keep one thing in mind as you begin to worry about protectionism, Carnival I believe is registered in one of the Caribbean countries(Bahamas), look at their staff when you get the opportunity to board or travel on one of their ships, that should give all of you ample reason to defend your decision.
ok people here is the proff that this pm doesnt give a crap about any citizen of belize the other day he and the american ambassador signed papers about the merida iniatiative and here was this pms quoted words word for word read this and you will see he doesnt give a damm about belizeans. PM Barrow in terms of the monies that they give out to countries in my view its welcome whatever belize gets we can to go cap in hand to the americans asking for more. i am no oliver twist i am oliver barrow so really this resources are limited i am determined to in fact be as creative as possible to scrape and scramble as much sufficent local resourses to give us some kind of claw hold in terms of this all important fight against crime what americans give is appreciated but DONT EXPECT ME TO GO BARGAIN WITH THEM OR ARGUE WITH THEM FOR MORE MONEY. OK people here is your proff that this pm couldnt care less if you or a member of your family gets killed it is beneath him to fight for more money to allieviate this crime situation i belize i thought a leader should do whatever it took to take care of its citizens but no he is satisfied with the scraps the us is trowing at belize how sad sad sad and will continue doing the same thing he is now doing which is nothing here is your profe people out of 100 million for central 8 countries belize is getting 2 million what a joke and this pm is too ashamed to ask for more it is beneath him to ask for more he prefers to sit back and keep watching people die day in and day out well i say kick him out of office now put him on a plane to the us never to return along with this american ambassador lets get a pm with some cojones who is willing to beg if nessary to take care of its citizens go to russia iran venezuela where ever nessary to get the money to help belize wow what a spineless and useless pm.
We have a history of giving away everything . This has to stop. The tourism industry is barely surviving and now these dummism are talking about competitive tourism;they are perverted just as their looks
Sounds like everyone is coming together in all the right ways on this issue!
Why worry about CSME??? Belizeans come first, the people of this country are our main priority. I bet other CSME countries have similar laws to protect their own citizens as well. Belizeans have to stand up to these foriegn investors who come here and try to take advantage of us thinking we are stupid……
Why should CARICOM countries be upset because Belize does not import tour guides from the rest of CARICOM countries? how could a tour guide from one country to another country be considered a skilled worker when that worker don’t even know the country he will be coming to I would think that to be skilled in a trade that you would have to be very proficient in that trade and as a tour guide in Belize you would have to know all the nooks and crannies of Belize the skills of some local trades are just not transferable from country to country and if one needs to be trained for that job in the new country then where are the skills, to be a proficient tour guide you will need to know your territory and then there is also the on the job training which will certainly make one coming from another country lack the necessary skills.
I would like to know who in the hell gave our governments authority to sign onto CSME and why the hell we Belizean have accepted it… our passports dont even have our emblem now.. i call this a lost of sovereign identity…. and this is not all we will loose… jobs, resources
I NEVER LIKED THESE GUYS THE MOMENT I SAW THEM, THE DEVIL IS EVERYWHERE ON THEIR ACTS. MARK THE OWNER OF CHUKA IS LUCIFER HIMSELF FOLLOWED BY YVETT AND TOM WILSON. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS MAKING MONEY AND DON’T EVEN CONSIDER THE LITTLE MAN. AT FIRST THEY WANT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT’S ALL GOOD BUT THEN THEY PUT DOWN THEIR HALO AND HORNS REPLACE THEM.
WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE LIKE THIS OUT OF OUR “OUR” COUNTRY.
CHUKA TOURS MOST GO BACK TO HELL WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
“A THIEF DAT”
P.S **k BARROW, MELVILLE, WILSON
“The Caribbean single market thing”? Can’t our Minister of Tourism speak more succinctly and professionally?