West Bay Dock Back

by Alan Markoff

Monday, May 24, 2004

Less than two days after a government plan to build the West Bay Cruise Terminal on a site near the entrance of Northwest Point Road was abandoned, the Leader of Government Business, Hon McKeeva Bush said that the project was back on.

Mr Bush had said last week Tuesday that the government was looking for an alternative site because it had been unable to acquire the necessary land required for the facility in its planned location, and that he did not want to make it compulsory for the landowners to sell.

However on Thursday morning, Mr Bush said that government would proceed as originally planned after all. “While the negotiations had broken down, they sprung back to life when I was called personally today and told that the owner would sell,” he said. “The project will go ahead.”

The planned dock facility would allow high-speed cruise tenders to bring passengers from George Town Harbour to West Bay, alleviating some of the overcrowding that occurs downtown on cruise ship days. “It will take a maximum 20 minutes for the cruise tenders to get to West Bay,” Mr Bush said.

Although the Government had enough land to build the dock itself, more land was necessary to build the ancillary infrastructure, which will include custom and immigration facilities, offices, a first aid station, restrooms and various shops and kiosks, according to Mr Bush.

The public will be able to learn more about the project in the near future, Mr Bush promised. “I’ve held several public meetings on this matter since 2002, and I intend to have further meetings with the public to show more detailed plans and to take suggestions,” he said.

The West Bay Cruise Terminal was originally planned to be completed in time for the start of the 2004/05 peak cruise ship season and be constructed concurrently with the Royal Walter Cruise Terminal in George Town. However, the delay in finalising negotiations will likely push the completion of the West Bay project back.

Misener Marine Construction Inc is currently building the marine portion of the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal. Misener Vice President John Bolles said in March at the signing of the contract for the George Town dock that his company would make a bid for the marine works of the West Bay project as well.

A West Bay tender dock will put cruise passengers close to the planned development of tourist attractions in the Boatswain Bay area, which will include the expansion of the Turtle Farm, a swim-with-dolphins facility and an antique car museum. Mr Bush said that several other attractions and businesses are being considered in the area. “There is a lot of entrepreneurial spirit alive,” he affirmed.

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