Letter: World's largest ship anchors in St Thomas USVI on Tuesday
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| Published on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 |
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Dear Sir:
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8, is a historical date in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, when the Oasis of The Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world is scheduled to make her maiden voyage to the Caribbean with her first stop in the US Virgin Islands
Incidentally it is the anniversary of the conception of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ the Lord.
This mega ship has a capacity of over 5,500 passengers and makes her first stop in St Thomas one of the three islands in the Territory from her home in Florida. She will dock at the Crown Bay cruise ship berth, one of the two cruise ship berths on St Thomas. Every strata of the community from taxi drivers to school children were made aware of the ship’s arrival. Traffic is being diverted in some areas as it is expected that a large number people will be lining up to get a glimpse of her beauty and size.
The departments of Tourism and Public Works along with the Chamber of Commerce are busy filling pot holes and mending sidewalks to prepare for the arrival of this mega ship.
Our economy is driven by tourism; St Thomas and St John are the main contributors to this industry with St Croix slowly but surely picking up.
The Virgin Islands is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and home to many divers and snorkelers, with the famous Megans Bay being rated among one of the most beautiful in the world and duty free shopping second to none.
Annually hundreds of calls are made to these shores by cruise ships and mega yachts. Tourist police as they are called are always on high alert on bicycles and foot patrol in the heart of the Charlotte Amalie, the capital, not only to protect the tourists from the criminal elements but to also protect the bread and butter jobs supported by the tourists who come to our shores. The tourist season starts in November and ends in April.
I have been living and working on St Thomas in the USVI for past 15 years with a 4-year break when my Corporate office relocated to Florida. My company depends solely on tourism and has survived the economic meltdown thus far. There were no massive layoffs in the US Virgin Islands although many companies took the opportunity to shave off the fat allowing them to hold their own. It is quite obvious that we are beginning to see some increase in spending in the territory.
I would like to invite anyone from the tourism department in St Vincent and the Grenadines to come to the USVI to get a first hand glimpse to see the operations of tourism, or maybe to go to Aruba my third home to see what real tourism is all about. For hospitality I give Aruba the highest score.
I visit all the islands in the Caribbean, which earn the bulk of their income from cruise ship and hotel business twice, sometimes three times a year; this industry is big business if it is taken seriously; especially if we can leave politics out of it. I have no doubt that St Vincent and the Grenadines can get its fair share if the right infrastructure is put in place, as a business and not as a political Ginny pig to only serve family and friends.
St Vincent and the Grenadines must move beyond politics and self centered motives if we are to serve our people well. We must select and appoint the best, most qualified and experienced to serve in order for us to get the most out of our product.
The cruise ship berth in St Vincent and the Grenadines needs to be fully utilized; we need to be able to sell our country as one of the most sort after vacation destination in the Caribbean. We Vincentians have what it takes to make it just that. Our Government officials need to be educated along these lines so that they can pass this down to the ordinary man in the street.
Mourine De Freitas-Ramjeet | | | | Reads : 2213 | | | |
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