Tour Operators wary of CSME and potential impact on Tourism Industry
narcisso garcia
The troubles in the cruise ship industry are still not over. A few weeks ago the caldron boiled over following the signing of what has been described as a controversial agreement between Carnival and Chukka/Bak-A-Bush Adventures. The Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize led the charge against the agreement and the impact of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, which allows competition from much larger regional companies as is the case of the partnership of Chukka Caribbean, a Jamaica based cruise tourism outfit, and Bak-A-Bush Adventures. Stakeholders in the industry continue to agitate that the bigger companies are taking the bread from their tables. Today FECTAB held a press conference and we found its members still railing against Chukka and the CSME.
Narcisso Garcia, Tour Operator
“When I realized that the business environment in Belize was changing and it had changed drastically I called my leaders, the president of the tour operators association. I called my next leader the president of the tour guide association and I asked them why is this new company allowed to invest and starting to monopolize the tourism, cruise tourism industry, and they both answered me and said Narcisso they have come under the guise using the CSME so there’s nothing we can do. Ladies and gentlemen there is always something we can do. I did some research on the CSME because if that is why they came here then we have to know what’s going on and what’s to come.
What I found out it states that we must now recognize the free movement of labor and the streamlining of existing procedures. Apparently there will also be an agreement among the central banks on one common currency, harmonization of fiscal and monetary policies. It is intended that the CSME will have a single currency. As it now stands a few members of the CSME are already using the currency known as the Eastern Caribbean dollar.
Those people out there in the Caribbean they don’t have anything left. They see what we got, they see our paradise and they’re coming to take it away from us and they know how to get it and it is only now being proven.”
On September first, FECTAB issued a press release emphasizing nine critical resolutions. Among them is the suggestion that the Government of Belize, through NICH, reconsider the legal framework governing the industry and that it should collect fees from Chukka Caribbean/Bak-A-Bush Adventures retroactively since FECTAB members had to pay entrance fees to NICH while Bak-A-Bush was exempt.
Carnival’s shares just went up so we know they are making enough money to throw their weight around.
Is the Eastern Caribbean Currency the same as the Euro & who came up with this flash of brilliance?
By the way we are on the western edge of the Caribbean, maybe it’s time we started playing with our neighbors here on the mainland instead of allowing the people with whom we share a common heritage & language treat us like the red haired step child.
CSME……… marching toward ………………ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT.
It is a business war out there, why even act surprise that other international companies want a piece of the pie.
It is time for Belizeans to wise up, be smart and secure their territories before it is too late. There are no victims here in this case, make no mistake of that.
Its called globalization, folks. And guess what, unless the leaders insist that certain provisions and guidelines are put in place and strickly enforced, the Belizean tour guides will literally find themselves on the outside of fort street looking in.
My opinion is that the same kind of regulations implemented in the fishing industry, should be put in place in the tourism industry. For Belizeans, by Belizeans. Period!!!
Caricom or no Caricom, charity begins at home and if we allow outsiders to come to the jewel and have their own way, it would be no different than allowing our next door neighbors free access into our homes when and how they feel like. Now tell me, would you allow that to happen ??…………
More than ever before, we need to harness all our resourses, both human and natural and see how best we may use it to our advantage. Could we possibly find a way to use what we have and find gainfull employment for so many of our youth that have lost their way and are going astray??
Come on Mr. Man, why is it that you are making it out to look like the needs of the common people is rocket surgery??