More confusion over Tourist Village

On Tuesday members of the tourism industry met at the Radisson to air several grievances they have with Government. Among them was a complaint that authorities were planning to relocate the marine terminal, recently constructed at the bridge foot, to a new “Tourist Village” to be built at Fort Point. All this was done, they alleged, without any consultation either with B.T.I.A., which has a ten year concession to operate the terminal, or the Water Taxi Association which uses the facility. Viewers may recall that B.T.B. Chairman Santino Castillo sought to spike the rumors as totally false.

Santino Castillo Jr., Chairman, B.T.B.

“The Marine Terminal will not be move. I can state that categorically that it will not be moved. It was just ideas which the director was discussing with different people and he had not even presented it to the Board to be ratified. So I can tell you clearly that no negotiation would take place without the total support of all the players involved and with proper consultation with all of them.”

Well, it seems that the director of tourism was not the only one with his foot in his mouth. Today’s edition of the People’s Pulse, published two days after Santino’s denial, still can’t seem to get it right either. An article on page 12 reports that B.T.B. has already approved the deal and is in possession of draft regulations to facilitate the relocation of the terminal to Fort Point. The story goes on to praise the tourist village concept and Government’s role in its creation. For more on this confusing controversy tune in tonight to “One On One” with Dickie Bradley. Guests will be B.T.I.A.’s Susan Fuller and B.T.B.’s Valerie Woods.