The Progressives-led Government and officials from Roatan, Honduras, could ink deals that would see Cayman Airways offering flights to the Central American island as well as reduce the cost of living for the people of Cayman through direct importation of seafood and produce.

A Cayman Islands delegation led by Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell made a whirlwind day trip on Tuesday, 16 August, to Roatanon on the Saab to hold bi-lateral discussions with government officials and those in the private sector who work in tourism and the food industries.

“We went to talk about an increase in trade between Honduras and the Cayman Islands,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “There are great opportunities for shipment of Honduran products to Cayman including meat, seafood and produce. It would mean a tremendous savings to consumers in the Cayman Islands as goods would not have to be shipped to Miami from Honduras and then forwarded here.”

Speaking to a packed room of public and private sector stakeholders on Roatan, Mr. McLaughlin said, “You will do better and we will save more money through direct trade”.

The group also talked about the possibility of opening direct flights from Grand Cayman to Roatan.

Mr. Kirkconnell told the group that Grand Cayman would be the perfect connection destination for travellers from Roatan going to Miami, Florida. The Cayman Islands is already an in-transit facility meaning passengers traversing to another destination are not required to clear immigration. In on the discussions from the Cayman Islands were Chairman of the CAL Board Philip Rankine, CAL President and CEO Fabian Whorms and CAL Vice President of Airport Operations Ivan Forbes.

“We have the expertise, the equipment and shortly we will have the newest fleet in the region,” said Mr. Kirkconnell.

Cayman Airways is replacing its four 737-300 airplanes, all of which range in age from 15 to 20 years, with new 737-Max planes. The fleet modernisation is expected to be complete by 2020. The new fleet will be more fuel efficient allowing for longer distances and increased passenger and cargo capacity.

Cayman Airways already has a route to La Ceiba, Honduras, and the expansion to Roatan would be good for both countries, Mr. Kirkconnell said.

Roatan Economic Minister Arnaldo Castillo said his government would create a group to begin working on what needs to be done to get Cayman Airways into Roatan.

In addition to trade and air travel, the issue of cruise ship berthing was discussed.

Roatan has two cruise ship berthing facilities, the Town Center and Mahogany Bay.

“We wanted to come and see what you have and talk to you about your own personal experiences with cruise berthing,” Mr. McLaughlin told those at the meeting. “We are a long way down the track to start construction of cruise berthing on Grand Cayman.”

Mr. Kirkconnell said that talking with public and private sector stakeholders and visiting the cruise berthing piers in Roatan gave the Cayman delegation a first-hand learning experience.

He said Cayman has visited other cruise berthing sites in the Caribbean.

“Everyone has been willing to share their experiences with us,” he said. “We believe, though, that we all need to be up to the same standard to make the cruising experience in the Caribbean worthwhile. We’re here to gather information. The more we work with our regional partners the better it makes us and the product.”

Emilio Silvestri, the director of the Honduran Institute of Tourism, said Roatan would be a special market for the Cayman Islands as the two countries share culture and language.

Many Caymanian families can trace their roots to Roatan where, by 1844, there were more than 250 Caymanians who had moved to that island. Today many Caymanians know or are related to someone in the Bay Islands. About 7,500 Hondurans live and work in the Cayman Islands.

“This is a historic moment for Roatan,” said Congressional Representative for the Bay Islands Mr. Romeo Silvestri.

A brief discussion was also held about creating a consular office for the Republic of Honduras on Grand Cayman.

Both Honduras Investment Minister Luis Mata and Mr. Castillo said they plan to bring a group of government and private sector investors and producers to the Cayman Islands soon to discuss the ramifications of doing business directly with the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands delegation included representatives from the Ministry and Department of Tourism, Cayman Airways Ltd., the Cayman Islands Port Authority – including Chief Financial Officer James Parsons Jr., Manager of Cruise Operations Joseph Woods and Roylee Moore – Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Mr. Roy Tatum, Press Secretary to the Premier Tammie Chisholm and International Affairs Analyst Jamaal Anderson.

IMAGES:

Cayman and Honduras officials at cruise ship berthing facility at Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Honduras. Photos: James Tibbetts

Bilateral talks in Roatan, Honduras with Cayman and Honduran officials. Photos: James Tibbetts

The Norwegian Escape docked at Town Center in Roatan, Honduras. Photo: James Tibbetts

Cayman Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Hon. Moses Kirkconnell presents a gift to Honduras Minister of Economic Development Arnaldo Castillo. Photo: James Tibbetts

From left, Cayman Islands Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Honduras Economic Minister Arnaldo Castillo, Tourism Minister Emilio Silvestri, Investment Minister Luis Mata and Bay Islands Governor Ricardo Merren Funes. Photo: James Tibbetts

Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin presents a gift to Congressional Representative for the Bay Islands Mr. Romeo Silvestri. Photo: James Tibbetts