CHICAGO: Veteran businessman Robert Hamaty applauds government’s decision to move forward with the port, pointing to the benefits for thousands of workers who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihoods.
The Tortuga Rum Company boss also scoffed at suggestions that government is bowing to the whims of an elite merchant class.
He told Cayman 27 if a port is not built, many existing jobs benefiting from cruise tourism could disappear. Conversely, he said going ahead with the project could stimulate growth in cruise-dependent industries.
He gave credit to government for what he describes as practical thinking in coming to the decision to go ahead with cruise berthing in George Town.
“Basically I think they made the right decision. A lot of the environmentalists who jump into the water with a camera, take a picture; they’re concerned, but they don’t employ the amount of people that the cruise industry employs,” said Mr. Hamaty. “So the government has made a very wise decision, because the mitigation processes are there to minimise any damage. Nothing is going to happen to the Seven Mile Beach.”
A new report released by government Thursday (1 October) outlined the cost of the mitigation measures not outlined in the initial EIA. These measures could cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $42.5 million beyond the estimated $189 million project cost, based on the scope of the mitigation efforts.
