Portico was not Discussed at FCCA Miami Meeting

The meeting between the Briceño administration and the executives of the F.C.C.A. also served to reiterate the urgent need for a berthing facility to be constructed in Belize.  Tourism stakeholders, including the respective cruise lines, have been clamoring for a berthing facility to be built, as the industry transitions away from tendering.  According to C.E.O. Solano, contrary to what was reported elsewhere, the meetings with F.C.C.A. did not include discussions on Portico and the proposed Port of Magical Belize.

Nicole Usher-Solano, C.E.O., Ministry of Tourism

Nicole Usher-Solano

“Just about every single line that we met with expressed the importance of having a berthing facility.  The future of cruise tourism requires it.  Tendering, and Belize is a tendering port, is not going to be sustainable for us as ships change and as the industry transforms going into the future.  So that is something that they all expressed and the government was able to say to those lines that we are committed to ensuring that we do support a port development that meets industry standards and has environmental clearances in the future.”

Isani Cayetano

“Again, or as well, these sessions were held at a point in time when the government hasn’t been able to introduce or subsequently enact legislation that addresses cruise tourism development in the country, post the Definitive Agreement.  Was this something that was discussed or was there any concern raised in respect of this matter?”

Nicole Usher-Solano

“I do think that the government was able to confirm to them that legislation is close to being confirmed and that was stated in the meeting and so they were able to feel, go away with a sense of comfort that Belize is serious about where we are going in that regard. Related to Portico specifically, there was no discussion about that in the FCCA meeting.  They were simply requiring some kind of commitment from the Government of Belize about what was going to happen with port facilities and, you know, the prime minister and the ministers were able to confirm that we’re definitely close to a resolution in that regard and that was what was expressed to them which would include the development of or finalize the development of some legislation that would ensure that we will be able to move forward.”