If Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell thinks that his report on the proposed Cruise Ship Berthing Facility will answer enough of the questions surrounding the project, he is seriously mistaken.

Kirkconnell was speaking at the Legislative Assembly Meeting held on Cayman Brac last Thursday.

In fact, if it wasn’t for the debate on the opposition leader’s private member’s motion to put the proposed project to a national debate with the emphasis on a referendum, I wonder if there would have been anything said about the berthing facility at all.

We did learn one important factor – the estimated cost. The Minister said the cruise pier development will cost around $150 million, whilst the cargo enhancement will add another $40 million or more. He didn’t say how much more and he was vague on whether this estimate included all the additions that were required now to extend the piers. If my memory serves me correctly this costing he gave sounds very similar to the original guestimate.

This estimate, sorry ‘valuation’, was provided by ‘experts’. I was once an ‘expert’ and I gave estimates on planned building developments that have not been constructed. I only gave valuations on finished constructed work.

I have never been an opponent of the cruise berthing facility, and do not feel we require a referendum but red flags are flying from what he said, but more importantly what he did not say.

The cruise ships have made it very plain. They will not be coming to Grand Cayman if we continue with our tendering system. I fail to see why anyone still questions this with the nonsense the cruise ship owners didn’t say the huge cruise ships cannot be tendered. If they say they won’t use tender service in the future that is the start and end.

I was on the phone just now with someone who started arguing with me on that same point. The persons wanted me to sign the petition for the referendum.

The referendum idea is now catching some steam and the government needs to put their heads together and provide convincing facts.

The opposition to the cruise berthing facility are coming up with all sorts of “facts” that include accountants who know absolutely nothing about building costs.

How the Minister can continually state he has been transparent about the process and responded to questions and articles, has held numerous public meetings, has given updates in budget speeches, and has gone on talk radio shows, is now beyond me. That was a million light years ago. Yes, I can exaggerate just like any government minister!

Whatever, we will now have to wait until November where he will be better informed. Better? He needs to very well informed. So far his answers are just not good enough and the berthing facility he wants so bad, might sink along with any ships that might want to come here.