Caymans Considers Sale of Turtle Attraction

The government-owned-and-operated Boatswain’s Beach/Cayman Turtle Farm attraction on Grand Cayman may be sold if the right buyer can be found, according to McKeeva Bush, the Cayman Islands leader of government business and minister of tourism.

The 23-acre facility, which hosts more than half a million cruise passengers and land-based tourists each year, reported a $74 million operating deficit for the 2008-09 financial year, which ended on June 30.

Deficit projections for the current fiscal year total $30 million to $50 million, according to the Cayman Compass newspaper.

“If we could find the right private-sector partner, we would take that partner on,” Bush said. “The right partner would be the one with the right-sized pocketbook and the right experience.”

He said that preliminary discussions already had taken place with individuals in the private sector. “We’ve had some discussions, but not anything that has borne any fruit,” Bush said.

Bush emphasized that the government’s intent was not to put any of the park’s 115 employees out of work or to shut it down. “This is a means of making government’s financial position viable and to retain jobs and create jobs, but we must cut our deficits,” he said.

The attraction opened as the Cayman Turtle Farm in 1968. The government took it over in 1983 as a division of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce.

In 2001, Hurricane Michelle caused extensive damage to the facility, resulting in the temporary relocation of hundreds of turtles while repairs were made.

At that time, plans were drawn up to reopen as a world-class marine park, which today includes saltwater and freshwater lagoons, a predator tank, an aviary, shops and a replica of a historical Cayman street.

Meanwhile, the park remains open. Admission prices are $45 for adults and $25 for children from 5 to 12 years old. Tours of the turtle farm only can be purchased at $18 for adults, $9 for kids.