New TourismChiefs

There couldsoon be official announcements that senior ranking positions withinthe tourism industry which will see native Caymanians being confirmedas top decision-making professionals for that sector.

Ms Pilar Bush,Mr Charles Clifford

It is understood that Mr Charles Cliffordwill be confirmed as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourismto succeed Mr Harding Watler and Ms Pilar Bush is to become theinterim Director of the Department of Tourism, officially takingover from Ms Angela Martins.

Information reaching Cayman Net News indicatesMr. Clifford, who has been acting in the appointment will be confirmedofficially to the permanent post effective 1 September, 2001.

In the case of Ms. Bush, who has been activeas part of a management team running the Department, it is expectedthat she could be confirmed as the Interim Director, while a searchcontinues to identify a replacement for Mrs. Martins.

It is not known when Ms Bush will have thestatus confirmed for her position. However, a statement by Ministerof Tourism, Hon. McKeeva Bush, verified that a Caymanian has beenrecommended to the post. The Minister was at the time replyingto a Cayman Net News query on when will there be an appointment.

Some months ago Mr Harding Watler was saidto have resigned from the position of Principal Secretary andhis official last days of work in the office were in early July,though he left his office earlier on pre-retirement leave.

The appointment of Ms Bush position as actingDirector, may coincide with comments made earlier when seniorgovernment functionaries were said to be considering renamingthe Department of Tourism to a Tourism Authority in order to bringon stream a new system of administration.

When this idea was mooted last month therearose the names of four persons who could may possibly be appointedto the post: businessman Mr Derrington 'Bo-Bo' Miller; water sportsexecutive, Mr Ron Kipp; Public Relations Manager in the Ministryof Tourism, Ms Nikki McCoy; and Ms Bush, who heads up the Department'soffice in the United States.

Soon after Mr Kipp was appointed Chairmanof a newly formed Tourism Action Committee.

With new competition looming from Cuba,and strengthened marketing initiatives by other destinations inthe Caribbean, the Government's Tourism Chiefs are facing someformidable challenges.

The appointments to top posts by Caymanianswho know their product, could be the best move at this time tostave off any reduction of visitors because of rising costs andbring new ideas to encourage growth.