Saturday, November 4, 2006

by Bevan Springer, Amsterdam News

Cayman Islands, GEORGE TOWN: Charles Clifford, Minister of Tourism of the Cayman Islands, is calling on Caribbean governments to chart a clear strategy to address new US passport regulations that may cripple the economies of several tourism-dependent Caribbean nations, and several leaders from the region see one part of it as harnessing the strong lobbying power of the cruise industry in Washington, which has already effectively secured an exemption for itself.

Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, compared the recent decision by the US government to amend the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to "a category 6 hurricane" for the Caribbean. The amendment delays the implementation of the new passport requirements until June 1, 2009 for land crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders and for cruise passengers coming to the US from the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada or Bermuda but still requires all US citizens traveling by air to and from these regions to have a passport by January 8, 2007.

Currently, Americans can enter and return from many Caribbean countries with only a birth certificate and government identification, such as a driver's license.

Speaking with the Amsterdam News at the opening of the 13th annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference and Trade Show here this week, Minister Clifford said Ministers of Tourism ought to take the lead and engage industry partners and Washington policy makers as soon as the dust settles from this month's US mid-term elections.

Opening the conference, Minister Clifford told hundreds of delegates, "to its credit, the cruise industry has recently gained an important, albeit partial victory. However, air travel is still not afforded a level playing field. It is to no one's advantage that this occurs. As a region and a tourism industry, we need to tackle this initiative with a united stance because our interests are inextricably linked."

At press time, several ministers of tourism were talking with senior cruise line executives about such a strategy for the way forward. "Time is of the essence now ... this thing is looming on the horizon so during our discussions here we intend to cement that issue," said Minister Clifford, who recognizes America's attempts to secure its borders, but regrets delayed US public relations efforts to prepare its nationals for the change.

He underscored that that the Cayman Islands fully supports the United States in its anti- terrorism campaign, but warned "we must be very careful to ensure that we do not seemingly create loopholes in the very security network we are trying to enhance. Any security measure, such as this, which involves staggered implementation dates for different forms of travel, can inadvertently undermine the very security regime that is desired within the western hemisphere."

Clifford says the cruise industry has been a true partner on this issue, unlike the US airlines who from all reports are only now stepping to the plate to back the Caribbean's efforts for a level playing field. Indeed Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation, says the cruise industry has long been active on this issue, even requesting the assistance of Florida Governor Jeb Bush since a negative impact in the Caribbean will hurt the "Sunshine State."

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