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Premier not talking about Carnival Cruise Line negotiations

Carnival Cruise Line had announced that it would not be been making any calls to the VI for the latter part of 2014 and the whole of 2015. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith declined to name who he is in discussions with at Carnival Cruise Line. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith declined to name who he is in discussions with at Carnival Cruise Line. Photo: VINO
Members of the Media had put several questions to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith on the alleged Carnival Cruise Line negotiations. Photo: VINO
Members of the Media had put several questions to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith on the alleged Carnival Cruise Line negotiations. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “…What I can say is that we are in discussions and my objective is to have them continue to come to the British Virgin Islands.” This was a response given to reporters at a press conference called by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith on November 12, 2013.

Reporters had taken the discussion to the issues of Carnival Cruise Line pulling calls from the Virgin Islands and which had cast a dark cloud over the local cruise and other tourism sectors. The taxi associations were going full speed ahead with plans for a massive protest but buckled at an invitation to sit with the Premier to discuss their concerns, a move which saw them walking away without any answers.

Carnival Cruise Line had announced that they pulled port calls to the VI especially for the year 2015 since they could not be furnished with confirmation for berthing for the latter part of 2014 and for 2015. Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool had told this news outfit that he hadn’t been officially informed but was aware that the BVI Ports Authority could not furnish Carnival with dates for 2015.

Hon. Vanterpool had also said Government was in negotiations with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Disney Cruise Line (DCL) and based on the outcome Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) would have to negotiate berthing arrangements through the successful company. Carnival was not prepared to go that way.

At the Tuesday November 12, 2013 press conference, the Premier did acknowledge that he is currently engaged in discussions with Carnival Cruise Line but said he was not at liberty to divulge any details. “I will do my best, one can’t determine at the beginning of the negotiations where it will end but that is my intention,” said Premier Smith. 

Grilled about his level of confidence in getting the best out of the negotiations, the Premier insisted that he is confident in his ability to effectively negotiate his position but reiterated, “of course I am confident in my negotiation but I cannot tell you what the result of the negotiation will be in the middle of the negotiations.”

Premier Smith insisted on not divulging information about who he was speaking with directly in Carnival Cruise Line despite being told that the US Virgin Islands (USVI) seems to be taking advantage of the loop holes being left open by the VI.

The USVI has made it public information that it is in direct discussion with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Carnival Cruise Line.

16 Responses to “Premier not talking about Carnival Cruise Line negotiations”

  • Hmmmmm (14/11/2013, 08:06) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply

    With Doc negotiation we can expect nothing good!!!!..remember the bad deal he give us from the protocol...This man is just not ready to represent us internationally
    • oh? (14/11/2013, 12:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      you mean the protocol that keeps them on their toes so they cant go be behind any backs to borrow money from somewhere and not be expected to give account for it so that it wont just be written off as a lost debt in the future?

      you mean that protocol? well by all means then when you get paid hand over your pay check to him
  • xxxxxxxx (14/11/2013, 08:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its such a shame that the NDP is actually taking this very lightly because with all these cruise ships pulling out, what have u got left? time for NDP to go!!!
  • Bvi man (14/11/2013, 08:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Study politics and you will know the NDP never like the cruise ships sector ...Remember them big man told them to stop it when they were last in 2003-2007 wak up BVI
  • THE ACCOUNTANT (14/11/2013, 08:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    With Hon. Smith talking to carnival I sat there and just nodded my head because we can expect ZERO!!
  • ooooo (14/11/2013, 08:53) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    doc called a bluff on the taxi men to prevent them from marching and making his government look bad
  • ABC (14/11/2013, 11:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc. please caugh up and admit that Canival is not budging on the question of negotiating with DCL and NCL for birthing rights, let alone having to deal with your minister and his cronnie. You need to reflect on what you are doing before it is too late.
  • C'Mon Vino (14/11/2013, 11:25) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Wha you expect? "Play by play" commentary while the negotiations are going on?

    Give the Premier a chance to do his job and at the appointed time we'll see if he was able to deliver the goods.
    • Honestly (14/11/2013, 12:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      i said the same thing just yesterday...sometimes the news needs to know what to print and how to print it...i starting to believe they not about public interest but about the ray ray and the lay lay
  • ta ta (14/11/2013, 11:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    tis time we stop playing politics and think about the country
  • regret (14/11/2013, 12:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    oh yea this what you voted for, this time was suppose to be different, but NDP is worst than first
  • wait on he (14/11/2013, 21:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets see what comes out of his negotiations..but I know the answer!
  • AC 360 (15/11/2013, 18:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    one bad apple spoil the lot especially if that one apple is the prime one
  • LUNNA (18/11/2013, 16:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU DON'T WHAT YOU WANY PEOPLE. YOU ALL EVEN CANN'T PLEASE YOURSELVE. IF GOD THE FATHER GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST COME DOWN IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, PLEASING IS GOING YO BE YOU ALL PROBLEM STILL. AMEN


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