The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) Board of Directors are urging its members and the public at large to make every effort to get informed prior to the upcoming referendum on the Cruise Berthing Facility.

As a representative association of tourism related business members, the CITA Board of Directors understands the community’s divisiveness on the Cruise berthing. No organization is intricately more divided on the subject than the CITA. A recent poll of the Associations’ members revealed that the membership of the association is clearly divided over the matter. And with members on both ends of the spectrums of cruise tourism, the Board announced last October that it had to remain neutral on the Cruise Berthing project and would encourage the exchange of information between Government and its members as much as possible.

Following the Board’s meeting with Verdant Isle Port Partners recently, CITA will be holding a members only meeting with the Verdant Isle Port Partners and Senior Government officials on Wednesday, December 4^th at the Marriott, Grand Cayman Resort at 4p.m. to help inform our members with the most up to date information from the group and answers CITA members’ questions prior to the referendum.

Both the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) and the Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) activists are continuing with public meetings on the subject in each district as a lead up to the referendum on 19 December 2019.

“While it may be difficult to distinguish fact from opinion, exposing oneself to the opposing viewpoints presents an important opportunity, particularly for those un-decided on the matter, to delve into multiple facets of the monumental decision before us” said CITA President, Ms. Theresa Leacock-Broderick. “We encourage everyone to attend or view these various meetings online, to allow yourself time to think the issues through for yourself, and ultimately, to vote on Referendum Day”

There are several websites and documents in the public domain to educate yourself about all aspects, both for and against the project. The Cayman Compass is providing easy online access to a comprehensive and growing series of articles and reports which started with and includes the Legislative Assembly debate on the Referendum Law. There is the Government Support our Tourismsite and the Cruise Port Referendum group. If the environment is your main concern, the Environmental Impact Assessment report, found at the Support our Tourism site and other environmental group reports like the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) report would be helpful. View recorded LA debates on YouTube the CIG Television page and CPR public meetings on Facebook.

If you would like to bring along a friend to the CITA members only meeting on Wednesday, the 4th at the Marriott, new members are always welcomed and they can sign up to become a CITA member at the meeting.

For further information on this, persons may contact the CITA Executive Office at 949-8522 or email [email protected].