Talks on China Harbor Berthing Project in the Cayman Islands Extended

Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush said Friday that negotiations with China Harbour Engineering Company on the construction of cruise berthing facilities for Grand Cayman would have to be extended for a few more months.  

Mr. Bush said government was looking into the terms of the “definitive agreement” with the Chinese government-owned developer, which has proposed to build cruise berthing facilities in George Town as well as constructing cruise facilities in West Bay and making improvements to the Spotts dock area. The proposal also seeks a study of Cayman Brac cruise tourism.  

However, the premier said government is awaiting the completion of a financial review by KPMG and would have to present the proposal for the definitive agreement to Cabinet members, the Central Tenders Committee and the Auditor General’s office for review.

“We can’t see them getting started with the dock [referring to the George Town cruise berthing facility] until September,” Mr. Bush said, speaking via telephone from Cuba. “We cannot delay beyond that, because even Cuba is opening up to cruise.”  

The premier had just gotten an eyeful of some Cuban hotels on his two-day trip with Cayman Airways officials, one of which was expected to start receiving four different cruises in the near future.  

At recent public meetings around Grand Cayman held to discuss the China Harbour cruise port project, Premier Bush has complained about “good governance bureaucracy” holding up business with regard to the port agreement. Mr. Bush also questioned why the government in the United Kingdom seemed to have a particular problem with the China Harbour proposal.