Overseas company to take over Antigua’s Cruise Ports

15
Cruise ship docked in St. John's recently

The government has confirmed that a company by the name of Global Ports will take over the management of cruise ports here in exchange for improvements and debt payments.

Before the deal is finalised, the Global Ports Team will pay one additional visit to Cabinet in order to conclude any agreement into which the Government will enter.

According to the government, Global Ports will advance the monies required to construct the OASIS-capable pier in Antigua, pay-off a debt that remains outstanding since 1997, and enhance the cruise passenger experience by constructing more shops and other amenities.

“Global Ports will also make Heritage Quay more attractive than it now is,” the Cabinet statement said.

Seven officials from Global Ports were invited to Cabinet to expand on their paper which was submitted several weeks earlier.

The officials also made an assessment of a response-paper submitted by the Ministry of Finance officials, who weighed the benefits and burdens of the proposal put forward by Global Ports.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]

15 COMMENTS

  1. There are studies done by the Caribbean Maritime Institute that shows clearly that many Caribbean countries have can never repay the debts barrowed to build cruise ports. To give this company the Piers until a debt is paid is giving them the pier for good. If we could not pay for it since 1997 when cruise lines and tourists were spending why would we be able to pay for it now that has changed. Every cruises line ask the Caribbean for all kinds subsidiary since they are doing us a favor by docking here and in addition to that they encourage the tourists to spend in US ports.
    Please let us stop entangling ourselves in debts and consequences our children will have to repay and suffer.

    • I think you misunderstood. The company is paying off the governemnt’s 1997 debt in exchange for taking control of the port.

    • cruise lines are not making us a favor, thats what they want us to believe. have you ever taken a cruise yourself? they only try to make money on their ships. even pay the local operators 5 dollars buy tickets from them and sell it to their passengers for 100 dollars. soon we will not be able to pay even the interest on these debts let alone principal. which one is worse for our children? getting rid of the debt and making some money for the first time from the port or leasing the port that costs us money for some time to a professional operator?

      • Seems as if you are supporting what I said. How will the professional get the cruise lines to pay more? Are we so incompetent that we can’t do what is best for Our island?. They use us against ourselves. If Antigua says pay this rate or don’t come here Barbados, for example, say come here and pay less. If they want a change the Caribbean have to unite and charge accordingly. Or let the continue to spend more days out at sea

  2. How many different entities i have heard to date are associated with this port.
    Does any of them haven’t any MOE with the government yet? If so, how all these countries: Caada, China, … a go deal with dis passa-passa?
    I am asking again, is this going to be another situation like the airport and Stanford where we got only esthetics and everything else gwarn a guasa?
    Moreover, base on all them loans and thing we aquired/seeking, have the country’s deficits outstripped its value yet?
    Praying we don’t end up like some of those countries in Africa where China is holding onto their port/assets for nonpayment of loans!!

  3. All the countries around the world that Antigua and Barbuda owed debt to are coming in like a flood to take over because the govermment can’t meet it debt payment. The former United States Air Force Base in Coolidge aka Pan American Base aka Antigua Air Station least money payment was paying the debt for this pier and entire Heritage Quay.

  4. Don’t think we will have anything left for our children’s children, children when they’re done, maybe just the people – I’ll it then be back to ‘slavery?’

  5. I think this is not correct as the government is not selling but just leasing for long term and getting rid of the debt to the worlds largest operator of cruise ports..this is an excellent opportunity not be slaved by cruise lines which we were subject fr decades!,,,

  6. I think this is not correct as the government is not selling but just leasing for long term and getting rid of the debt to the worlds largest operator of cruise ports..this is an excellent opportunity not be slaved by cruise lines which we were subject fr decades!,,,

  7. I made a simple search for Global Ports, it is not a chinese company and they seem to be very experienced in europe. we have a very big debt because of past governments, if the deal is like it is said here, then i dont see anything bad about it. also more shops mean more money for our local people. i think it is a very good move by the government.

  8. cruise lines are not making us a favor, thats what they want us to believe. have you ever taken a cruise yourself? they only try to make money on their ships. even pay the local operators 5 dollars buy tickets from them and sell it to their passengers for 100 dollars. soon we will not be able to pay even the interest on these debts let alone principal. which one is worse for our children? getting rid of the debt and making some money for the first time from the port or leasing the port that costs us money for some time to a professional operator?

Comments are closed.