Gov’t And Carnival Cruise Lines Hold ‘Positive’ Talks In Miami

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The Antigua and Barbuda government Friday said it held “productive and construction” talks with officials of the Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line regarding the ongoing impasse between them that had led to the company cancelling several scheduled calls to the island.

A statement issued following the talks held in Miami, noted that the Antigua and Barbuda delegation had met with senior executive officials of Carnival Corporation, operator of nine cruise line.

“The Antigua and Barbuda delegation described the meeting as very productive and constructive, adding that both sides were very optimistic about future relations, based on understanding how a mutually beneficial relationship between Carnival Corporation and Antigua and Barbuda can be strengthened,” a statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Investment noted.

It said that in welcoming the participation “at the highest levels by Carnival Corporation and the readiness to continue the gainful relations that exist, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation revealed that both parties look forward to another meeting, scheduled for next week”.

The statement said the meeting next week would develop “today’s understandings …into an agreement.”

The statement made no mention as to whether or not Carnival Cruise Lines would be resuming calls to the island.

Last month, the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA), Nathan Dundas, said that the cruise line did not give a reason for the cancellation adding “so all four ships booked commencing next season November 2019 to 2020 – Breeze, Magic, Legend and Pride will be going to other ports.

But Tourism and Investment Minister, Henry Charles “Max” Fernandez, in a statement, said he wanted to condemn “unequivocally a misleading and scare-mongering statement” by Dundas.

The statement by the Ministry of Toruism and Investment Friday gave no indication as to the composition of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation to the talks in Miami.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Nathan Dundas is NOT scare mongering…Max Fernandez is scare-mongering the Antigua people by going along with this giveaway Antigua deal to the Turk and his co-horts in GPH. These people must be thinking that Christmas came early when they got this deal along with a govt. who will support same to either gain for themselves or fear of keeping a job. Max Fernandez needs to get his head out of the crevice that it is stuck in and serve the people with what is in OUR best interest as per what he is paid to do. Carnival Cruise lines do not need Antigua or the corrupt nonsense that is happening in this unkempt island…Antigua and its’ govt. mean absolutely nothing in the scale of ports to visit by the cruise lines, and they certainly don’t need to be overcharged by a company who is declining on the stock market whose only mission appears to be to gouging the cruise lines for all they can get, while disenfranchising the numerous Antiguan people who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihood and worse still coming here with their arms swinging empty and getting a loan from Antigua taxpayers deposits from one of our local banks while using our lands as collateral. The consequences from all this crap is very scary. Mr. Dundas did the public of Antigua a huge favour by releasing a factual and relevant to survival advisory…Forewarned is forearmed and we are rightfully fighting to keep our assets in legitimate hands that benefit us not a bunch of outsiders and a privileged one or two from here.

  2. Hi Jeb
    Your statements are so UNFAIR . This is the best deal for Antigua / Barbuda . The UPP does not like progress,that is why They will remain Opposition for many many years to come. ABLP will ALL 17 seats including Barbuda next Election. You will have many years to complain.

    According to Mr. Knight of the Snakepit. The new UPP slate is ” OLD WINE IN A BROKEN BOTTLE ‘
    So keep on complaining.

    Do you see anyone on the UPP slate can win election?
    Can Driftwood win in St. Pauls. Give me a break
    The UPP should start training Jamal Pringle to speak in Parliament. He is a total DISGRACE.

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