Ellio plans to meet with all shopkeepers

MLA Ellio Solomon yesterday rejected claims that George Town port plans called for 130,000 square feet of retail space, threatening downtown merchants, and would discuss it tomorrow with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. (CITA).

He rejected fears that December-developed plans by Los Angeles-based Aecom, partner to port developer China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), called for massive new shopping areas that downtown merchants fear will drive them out of business, creating “a ghost town”, according to Edmar’s Discount Drugs owner Noel March.

“As soon as I heard that,” Mr Solomon told iNews Cayman, “I requested an overview from CHEC, and they came back and said it’s about 50,000 square feet. I think it was irresponsible of Mr March, and 50,000-plus is pretty close to what I have been told.”

He said he would meet CITA on Thursday “and we’ll discuss everything” and hoped the George Town business owners would attend.

“I have already met one-on-one with some of the merchants who called me. I said weeks ago that I would have meetings with all the stakeholders, and hope to do so in one forum or another.

“I will sit down with the merchants,” he promised, hoping to allay their fears.

On Tuesday, Mr March said he would submit today to Premier and Minister of Finance, Tourism and Development McKeeva Bush a three-page letter with nearly 30 signatures from George Town business owners, detailing their fears in the face of a massive “upland” development at the new George Town port.

The Aecom plans, revealed by Mr March last week, indicate five buildings for “retail/restaurant” space, a “restaurant/retail” area, an “international bazaar”, “retail/restaurant crew services” and a hotel.

The full-colour design also calls for a mega-yacht marina, a dock for tender boats and excursion vessels, vehicle parking and public transport.

Mr March yesterday dismissed Mr Solomon’s charge he was “irresponsible”, saying no information about the port design had otherwise reached the public, and that even 50,000 square feet of new retail space represented a threat.

“That’s still five times more than what is at the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal,” he said, “so it’s still way off.”

The letter to Mr Bush outlines “significant economic losses” to downtown merchants in the past several years, describing a similar 2009 letter – since ignored — bearing 50 signatures seeking changes to retail allocations in the Royal Watler design.

“Unless we are going to be guaranteed 3.5 million to 4 million cruise passengers annually, the introduction of what we understand to be in excess of 100,000 sq ft of new retail space will definitely be the ‘last nail in the coffin’ for many of us who are currently hanging only by a thread,” Mr March writes.’

The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association has guaranteed only 1.2  million passengers per year at the new port.

Mr March said talks with Mr Solomon would help “only if it is what we hope for, only if he listens.

“It’s not just us that are part of this; it is the operators, tours, taxis, everyone is part of it. And it leaves the developer with between 49 years and 51 years,” he said referring to CHEC’s two-pronged repayment period during which the company will first recover its investment, then earn a return throughout a period of between 20 years and 24 years.

“This is a matter of national interest, and it’s for everyone,” Mr March said.