Up Front

Tourism Minister
Addresses Chamber

Hon. W. McKeeva Bush

The Hon. W. McKeeva Bush was the guest speakerat the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which washeld at the Wharf Restaurant, Wedesday, 24th April

Among the well attended event were membersof the Executive Council, Leader of Government Business, the Hon.Kurt Tibbetts; the Hon. Linford Pierson; and MLAs from the Districtof West Bay, Rolston Anglin, Clive Glidden and Capt. Eugene Ebanks,the Director of Tourism, Mrs. Angela Martins and the Port Director,Mr. Errol Bush.

The following is the text of Mr. Bush'saddress

"As the business leaders of our communityit is with each of you that our Government must form a solid partnershipto successfully steer the "Good ship Cayman Islands"towards sustainable economic success. On behalf of my colleaguesin Government it is our desire that we fully realize the potentialof this country to ensure that positive economic impact and socialharmony is realized for all stakeholders.

Let me first state that my colleagues andI are cognizant of our responsibilities to the people of the CaymanIslands and we take these responsibilities quite seriously.

Since coming into Government, just fivemonths ago, we have been faced with challenges and opportunitiesin order to position the entire country on a road to more efficientmanagement. We have adopted an approach that it is not "businessas usual" but we have undertaken to provide better servicesthan ever to the people of this country.

In order to meet these demands, it has beennecessary to take a new approach, an "outside the box"approach to conducting business that is in the best interest ofall who live in these islands.

I am aware and have heard, from many ofyou, your concerns over the state of the economy and the futurefor the Cayman Islands.

While not casting direct or indirect blame-for the present state of the economy, I would enjoin you to giveus your understanding as we are a new Government and are committedto growing with you to resolve the concerns of the community atlarge.

Fortunately though, our Government, becauseof the mandate given to us by you and the wider electorate, mustperform in a proactive manner, if we are to succeed.

As a Minister of Government within the ExecutiveCouncil, I am, as you know responsible for matters dealing withTourism, the Environment and Transport and including Commerceand Housing. Within my Ministry, there are departments, unitsand statutory bodies, which require a considerable amount of attentionto detail, if they are to be efficient and deliver value in acost effective manner. This approach is nothing new to you, asyou are also faced with similar decisions on a daily basis.

Business people in every community are theones who can help make or break a country. With this in mind,it is my intention to involve every business owner and entrepreneurfrom the wide spectrum of our commercial activity, in the recovery,proactive maintenance and growth process of the Cayman Islandsecono
my.

A new Government in this new millenniumfaces some brand new challenges, many, not of our own volition.For instance, we are faced today with quite prosperous and populousnations, who believe it is our duty to be the watchmen for theircitizen's obligations.

While we will not shirk in our contributionto sponsoring good order in the world and throughout our Caribbeanregion - because of our standing as the fifth largest financialcentre in the world, we must be an example of this good order,by negotiating our position and the will of our business community,in an atmosphere of conciliation and cooperation, without weakeningour economy.

This ... is no easy task.

Nevertheless, our Government is preparedto meet these challenges. But we cannot do it alone.

While trying to ensure that we provide optimalservices as a Government to nurture and encourage economic growth,we must also be mindful that prudence in spending must take precedenceover grandiose developments and egotistical programmes.

In this regard, my Ministry has been activelyinvolved in reinventing the approach and execution of my mandate,in order to better balance, thereby stimulating and maintainingour position as the most envied economy in this region.

Among the initiatives being spearheadedby the Ministry for Tourism, Environment and Transport are thefollowing:

In the area of Tourism we are realisticallyreviewing this industry and the public sector component of itwith the full understanding that tourism is a vital cornerstoneof our economy. More focused attention is now being given toour primary market, the US. However, increased effort is alsobeing projected to support the Canadian and the European marketsincluding the United Kingdom. I am developing strong links withour airlift partners to the destination as that is the pivotalcomponent of the travel business and tourism cannot survive otherwise.

To this end, the public/private sector tourismpartnership must be strengthened further with the private sectorbecoming more aggressively involved in the marketing opportunitieswithin all our markets.

To further support the required tourismdevelopment initiatives going forward, I am in the process ofsetting up a Tourism Development and Marketing Oversight Committeeto which I have already gotten commitment from a number of personswho are involved at high levels in travel and product marketingorganizations overseas. Additional to these persons would be keylocal stakeholders.

There is much need for the Department ofTourism to become a more autonomous business entity for the governmentand thus better able to conduct the business of tourism marketingmore proactively. The outcome of the ongoing review process, seeksto remove all the legacy systems, which have plagued the departmentand create a national tourism operation with accountability andtransparency, thereby allowing the Director and her staff to dothe job assigned to the Department in a proactive business likemanner.

In a true sense of partnership I am committedto fully supporting the private sector within the tourism industryand as such I am proud to have played a facilitation role in theamalgamation of the two tourism associations here on Grand Cayman. I am very pleased to note the cooperation between the Chamberand The Department of Tourism in the upcoming training for taxidrivers and other front line business personnel in conjunctionwith the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.

This activity speaks to a strong positionof mine to ensure that serious attention is given to the developmentof training initiatives in the area of hospitality and tourism.I anticipate a stand-alone hospitality-training center with criticallinks to the Community College for advanced specialist trainingfor hospitality workers. It is bedrock development work like this,which must be done to ensure sustainability of the sector in thelonger term, importantly ensuring that Caymanians can be moreproductively involved within the sector.

The Department of Tourism continues to workclosely with the tourism private sector as we develop a strongand credible marketing communications programme, that will embracean integrated approach including the components of marketing,public relations and sales in the traditional sense and exploringnew media and technological opportunities as well. In addition,all efforts in developing and enhancing our tourism product willinclude promotion of our national attractions on all three islands.

I am pleased to say that in meeting withthe private sector in the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and LittleCayman the spirit of partnership is very much alive. For thisI applaud Moses Kirkconnel the chairman of SITA. The tourism operatorson the Sister Islands and government officials are dedicated toa positive working relationship whereby we look at developmentissues, sharing of resources and planning together with a commonset of objectives.

In all the marketing regions overseas withinwhich we maintain a presence, we will reflect the Cayman Islandsbrand quality and image that has propelled this destination tothe forefront of tourism destinations worldwide and aim towardattracting an optimal number of quality visitors suitable forthe Cayman Islands.

Plans are being developed for the downtownPort Facility and I have held meetings with the Merchant's Associationamong others in pursuit of this.

Fundamental to the ongoing sustainabilityof the tourism sector is the necessity for growth. In that regard,I am supporting a number of initiatives, which would grow theroom stock inventory and allow for an increase in economic activitywithin our islands.

Other areas for which I have responsibilityinclude the Department of the Environment, Fire Service, PortAuthority and Civil Aviation Authority.

The Department of Environment plays a vitalrole in the conservation and protection of the environment. TheDepartment has been assisting the ministry with the drafting ofamendments to the Marine Conservation Law and Regulations whichare vital to the preservation of our heritage and the sustainabilityof our tourism product.

We will put in restrictions on taking lobstersfor 3 years, limit conch to 3 per boat and allow only 2 fish potsper family all needing to be licensed.

The Caymanian land crab is becoming extinctand regulations are being developed in this regard.

We will work to meet the goals and objectivesof the DOE, the National Trust (as it becomes less confrontational) and other watchdogs of our natural resources, as we must protectour natural resources both above and below the water while werecognize that development must continue in a better balancedmanner.

Along with these initiatives, there aresignificant strides being made at The Cayman Turtle Farm.

Upon taking office and responsibility forthe port, I instructed the Port Management to review the plansfor the expansion of the cargo and cruise facilities for GeorgeTown. This expansion is presently being undertaken with the viewto decrease the size and environmental impact of the project withoutcompromising the need for additional cargo and cruise passengerlanding area while managing costs to the country. It is anticipatedthat the revision of the plans will enable the Port Authorityto achieve the desired effect of the previous plans, as far asthe cargo operation is concerned, plus enhancing the much neededcruise passenger facility, while reducing cost.

I have had extensive discussions with thePort Authority on this matter. The Authority has now completedthis review in consultation with the George Town business communityand has revised the George Town Port Development Plan. I havealso met with a number of George Town businesspersons and otherconcer
ned parties and I am now confident that we have a feasible planand can now move ahead.

In support of all these port developmentplans and in support of the small business operators at the cruiseport I have had several discussions with the Florida CaribbeanCruise Association in connection with these matters. These discussions are ongoing.

Developments within the Civil Aviation Authorityincludes planned improvements for the airport and facilities inGrand Cayman, re-surfacing of the airstrip in Cayman Brac andthe relocation of the present airstrip on Little Cayman to ensurethat we are delivering the utmost in safety, convenience and comfortfor our residents and visitors alike.

We recognize airports internationally areovercrowded. The Cayman Islands are in the business of tourism, therefore, airports and air services must be user friendly inthis highly competitive market. I will not be drawn into an unplannedapproach, and that is why I have set in motion the developmentof a master pla
n which will address our medium and longer term needs.

Housing.

There are wider subjects, which are notwithin my Ministry which impact on our ability to serve our country. As I have said before, generally speaking, our Government supportsintelligent development that sustains our economy for the longterm and ensures the maximum possible benefit to all our people.In my opinion it was not far sighted for certain elements tooppose so viciously the Ritz Carlton for so long, yet allowinga Holiday Inn to be built. Ironic that the stated policy has beenfor many years now to encourage quality versus quantity for ourtourism product. Now, elements are opposing the Cayman Shoresdevelopment, which is projected to span some 20 years in developmentwith all upscale facilities.

For far too long, it has been assumed bysome that we could afford this type of attitude of Not wantingthis or Not liking certain persons, well, from what we are experiencingin the economy now, it is clear that we are reaping the resultsof that attitude. What I am hearing from the people who sell tourismfor us
and other international players in some of our competitive destinationsis that the Cayman Islands cannot any longer afford this typeof insular attitude.

The world will not allow us to continuewith this attitude. Not only has this contributed to the economicslow down we are all feeling, but creates a negative climate forall types of investors who maybe considering the Cayman Islandsas an option. The prosperity, which the Islands have enjoyed,is a direct result of an open and cooperative investment climate.It has attracted good investments, which in turn has allowed thegovernment to provide public education, health care and othersocial services.

This kind of environment has allowed ourpeople to enjoy a high standard of living in a relatively safeand stable destination. We cannot destroy this quality of lifefor our people. We need to support the kind of viable long-termbeneficial development that projects such as Cayman Shores offer.I certainly do so
with the caveat that all things are done that offers the leastnegative impacts upon our environment. Developers like the Ritzand Cayman Shores are offered many more incentives by other islandsin the Caribbean, our competitors, which are now aggressivelyswitching from an agricultural based economy to tour
ism. We have serious competition and we have to acknowledge andrespond sensibly to it if we are to continue to enjoy the qualityof life to which we have become accustomed.

Information Technology is the responsibilityof my Honorable Colleague. He is certainly a very capable administratorand can take this subject forward, such that it compliments andenhances the pillars of finance and tourism, both of which aredependent on this new technology. Over and above that, Inform
ation Technology can become a new industry for these Islands.Government, therefore, will have to pay much more attention tothe rapid development in this area allowing the country to moveforward quickly.

With regard to Immigration these islandsare facing some critical decisions. At this watershed moment itis important to reflect on our past and recognize how it hasallowed us to get to this desirable position we have today.

Over the years, the Cayman Islands has been unique in recognizing the value that different culturescan offer and has done so by melding of all of them into a socialquilt of mutual respect and dependency.

Regardless of the challenges we face todaywe must remember that our population has been made up entirelyof immigrants to our shores. Our ancestors came from all over. We have succeeded in forging a state with virtually no crimeand a lack of racial discord. The bedrock of the society is abroad and enfranchised middle class. This middle class is whatwe must seek to protect and encourage. This is done with creatingopportunities in a secure environment where the skills and effortsof all our people can blossom. We need to recognize in a clearand straightforward fashion the rights and responsibilities ofthose who contribute to our well-being. Over the past severalyears, we have had legislative committee after legislative committeeon Immigration. It is time for this government to take a decisionto ensure the security of tenure of these who have been here fora considerable amount of years and contributed in a positive wayto the safety, security and prosperity of our islands. This shouldbe done before year end.

In these challenging times, I am remindedof a speech delivered by Booker T. Washington in his Atlanta expositionin 1895 and to paraphrase Booker T. Washington I would say toyou that all who live in these islands born Caymanian and otherresidents, all of us, we must cast down our buckets and pull togetherto turn the challenges we face into the opportunities we desire.

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