Opposition Motion To Review Tourism Management Defeated

To support a motion brought by the Opposition calling for a review of the tourism industry in the British Virgin Islands would be "telling the wrong story", according to Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal. And so, the motion was defeated 7-5. One Member, Rep. D5 Hon. Ethlyn Smith was absent for the vote.

In moving the motion, Member for the 7th District Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering, noted that the tourism industry forms one of the largest economic pillars of the Virgin Islands, accounting for an estimated 28% of the Gross Domestic Product as stated in the National Tourism Strategy. He noted that this industry is one of the largest employers in the territory; that the majority of locally owned businesses derive the bulk of their income from tourism and its related sub-sectors and that one of the economic policy objectives of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Partnership between the governments of the BVI and the United Kingdom is to enhance institutional capacity with respect to the management of the tourism industry.

The Legislator said recognition should be given to the fact that tourism is the largest industry in the world and one of the most competitive and he called for the Legislative Council to appoint a Special Select Committee to review the current status of national tourism management in the territory. He re-iterated the issue of the non-appearance of the Acting Director of Tourism during the Standing Finance Committee meeting, saying Members have been deprived of the opportunity to debate the merits of the $6M government has allocated to the BVI Tourist Board. "It's a vexing issue...it is an open secret that staff morale at the Tourist Board right now is extremely low...Mr. Speaker, if the government of the day finds it necessary to appoint the Acting Director to the substantial post of Director of Tourism, to me...we're sending the wrong message!" the Opposition Legislator declared. Chief Minister O'Neal is quoted in the budget address as saying this sector remains the most crucial to our economic survival.

Dr. the Hon. Pickering said as he understands it, the vision for the tourism industry is that the BVI is Nature's Little Secrets. He referred to the National Tourism Development Strategy 1996-2005, the aim of which was to provide a set of policies, strategies and implementation guidelines for the further development of tourism on a sustainable basis, which will continue to stimulate the economy for the benefit of BV Islanders, while preserving the heritage, culture and the environment of these islands. The Opposition MP said it therefore means that if we are going to achieve all of this, there must be constant debate. "Mr. Speaker, we live in what I'm sure every Member in this House would agree...a very different world at this point in time; if tourism is our main industry Mr. Speaker...we can't just take it for granted," he charged.

He said when we travel, we are tourists and we expect quality service. "Have we paid similar attention to the situation in our country to continually update and revive what we are giving to our visitors, or are we just resting on our laurels and expect that our tourism product, as it is, will forever remain as it is?" According to Dr. Pickering, the National Tourism Development Strategy emphasizes the need for more organizational structure to the tourism industry, with the specific creation of a Ministry of Tourism and a National Tourism Committee. "...I haven't seen that sort of approach taking place and I think that it is imperative that we take time out now...it's mid-term for the National Tourism Strategy...and it's high time that we do a review of the review to see how far we have come in terms of implementation of the whole strategic outlook that was recommended by Coopers and Lybrand in this very lengthy study that they presented to the government in April 1996," he declared.

He said the motion basically seeks to ensure that the recommendations will be put in place, so that the BVI can be way ahead of its competitors. All of his colleagues supported the motion along the same lines. Representative for District 4, Hon. Mark Vanterpool noted that the study highlighted three areas that need to be examined if the tourism product in the BVI is to be improved - liquid and solid waste disposal problems, the management of the environment and the management of moorings fields. Analyzing the latest statistics relating to tourist arrivals, he questioned whether the territory could provide more incentives, more promotion and better products in order to attract more people to the islands. "Are we getting our fair share of the pie...investment in the tourism sector is important...in other words, when was the last time we...attracted...an upscale hotel group? Are we aggressively out there trying to market our destination to good hoteliers who can help us in turn to promote our country and our product?" Hon. Vanterpool wondered. In the words of Territorial Member Hon. Ronnie Skelton, the time has come for the BVI to blaze some new trails. "I believe that anything that remains the same for too long will die, that's natural," he declared.

He said we cannot allow our tourism product to deteriorate any further. He said the motion basically calls for more coordination with every department, government and non-governmental, to chart a course for tourism development. Hon. Lloyd Black, Member for the 8th District suggested that the territory needs to put a defined plan and strategy in place for the proper management of tourism. "We do recognize Mr. Speaker, that our resources are limited, but nevertheless, we have been going on for a period now with an Acting Director (of the BVI Tourist Board) and I think Mr. Speaker that is totally unsatisfactory," he stated as an example.

He said some permanence needs to be brought to that position and appoint someone who can advance the BVI tourism product to the next level. Leader of the Opposition Dr. the Hon. Orlando Smith said there seems to be a little bit of uneasiness amongst the local and foreign investors who appear to be shying away from major projects. He wondered whether government is neglecting to pay more attention to the tourist industry because of the success of the financial services sector. But he cautioned that the territory should not become lackadaisical, especially now that the financial sector is under threat and may soon not be as substantial a provider as it has been over the years.

In making his contribution to the debate, Chief Minister Hon. Ralph O'Neal, who has responsibility for tourism, said although his Honourable colleagues tried to "dress it up", what is virtually being said is that nothing is being done and the tourism industry in the BVI is "going backwards". He wondered whether this committee would incur expenditure, because according to the rules of the House, only the government side could bring motions that would incur expenditure. The Tourism Minister defended his government's efforts, saying the Tourist Board has in fact been working despite the difficulties. He mentioned continued assistance in granting permits for sailing boats for charters, assistance provided to local business people who want to own small hotels and efforts to promote the islands in Europe for the summer months. He spoke of expansion projects underway at Long Bay and Nail Bay, but said we must also bear in mind that when rapid expansion takes place, difficulties arise with immigration. "The government of the day has to act responsibly; we must, at all times, take into consideration our population growth, the facilities that we have in education, health and welfare, our traffic and all those things..." the Chief Minister stated. He said it is not to say that government is sitting back with its arms folded. He said things are happening - the airport expansion, the sewerage problem is being looked into, the Conservation and Fisheries Department sees to the aesthetics of the beaches and the environment and road improvements are ongoing. "Mr. Speaker, the motion before the House really wants to tell us 'you are not doing anything...give us a Committee and we'll do it'. Now, that is surrendering your responsibility...and therefore Mr. Speaker, I find that I cannot support this motion," Hon. O'Neal concluded.

For her part, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Education and Welfare, recognized that "something seems not to be totally right in the tourism state of Denmark." She said the fact that this motion came this far tells her that there is reason for the 13 Legislators to "sit together and talk openly to one another about what is happening in one of the pillars of our industry, which now seems to be structurally unsound"

Hon. Parsons, who worked in the industry for nearly ten years, agreed that a lot is being done, but said more could be done to develop the industry and this process could start with the upgrading of human resources. The mover of the motion, Hon. Dr. Pickering was profoundly disappointed at what he called the "innuendos and sarcastic remarks" made by Chief Minister O'Neal. "Mr. Speaker, what's sinister about setting up a Special Select Committee? The Council sets up its own Committees and decides the terms of reference!" the Opposition Legislator argued. "Everything out of the Chief Minister's mouth was negative!" He expressed disappointment that none of the other government MP's found it necessary to make a contribution. "Is that the sort of apathy with which we take tourism in this country? The debate was not to conclude without an outburst from Dr. Pickering: "Let's just sit down and talk, the Chief Minister can't know everything...here you have an opportunity...we don't have to get up on the radio and stand up here to criticize everything the government do...I should be able to come to you as the Minister of Tourism and say 'here's a situation that we need to work on', but you don't want to do that," he exclaimed. "How you mean?" asked the Chief Minister. "But look it here, ah begging you for it," shouted Dr. Pickering. "But you didn't come to me before," Chief Minister O'Neal responded. "Ah begging you now, ah even on me knees and you just throwing it away," the District 7 Rep. pleaded passionately. There was a similar outburst earlier in the day between the Representative for District 4 and the Chief Minister over the response or lack thereof to a question.