West Bay Dock Project Unsure

Monday, March 22, 2004

An announcement concerning the construction of the West Bay Cruise Terminal should be made "within a couple of weeks" according to a statement made recently by the Leader of Government Business, Hon McKeeva Bush.

The $8.5 million project, which is expected to be ready for the 2004-2005 winter season, is planned to be located at the entrance to Northwest Point Road on the way to the Turtle Farm.

Mr Bush also said that as of now, the scope of the project has not been decided because the land acquisition process is still on-going, and nothing can be decided until the planners know how much land they have on which to build the facility. 

Cayman Net News has learned that the land acquisition process for the project has not gone smoothly for the Government. 

Some property owners, who are not compelled to sell, have refused to do so. At least one property owner is reportedly asking what the Government considers an exorbitant price for acquisition. 

As a result, the facility will most likely have to be toned down in size in order to fit a smaller land area.

The smaller facility could mean that some property owners in the area, who thought their land was to be purchased by Government for the project, will not have their property bought after all. 

Contacted for a status update on the land purchases, Lands and Survey Department Senior Valuations Officer Colin Obi said: "I have no comment."

The lack of information has frustrated many of the residents and landowners in the area, and gave rise to rumours last week that the dock location was being moved closer to the Turtle Farm, where there will also be a captive dolphin attraction to be built in the near future.

However, a Government spokesperson flatly refuted the speculation as having no basis in fact, something which was concurred with by several people well informed on the dock project. 

The West Bay Cruise Terminal is to accept cruise tenders from ships that will be moored in George Town. 

It has also been learned by Cayman Net News that an exclusive Local Companies Control Licence (LCCL) was already issued last year to a prominent Seven Mile Beach hotelier to tender passengers from George Town Harbour to West Bay. 

Instead of the tenders used to take passengers to the George Town dock, high-speed tenders will be utilized instead.

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