Needs of a 5 year government vs. long term need of Tourism Industry

Herbert Haylock

Krohn was not the only one who threw a few punches at the architects of the M.O.U. and the press release. President of B.T.I.A., Herbert Haylock, spoke of a political need to inject cash into the economy.  Rather than thinking of the long term future of tourism for Belize, Haylock postulated that that the government is thinking of the immediate needs of a five year government.

Herbert Haylock, President, B.T.I.A.

“We seem to be thinking in a five year cycle. We’re not looking at this information critically beyond a five-year cycle or construction phase for example. Yes there will be employment brought about by the construction, but what happens thereafter. We talk about the jobs. What types of jobs are these? Is it meaningful employment that is going to be consistent all year round? Those are the questions that we need to ask from a development point of view. And if we are talking about development within the industry, let us look at where again from the overnight—because we are talking about the industry. The overnight sector has proven to be the breadbasket of this economy. It has shown time and time again, year after year that it is resilient and growing at a consistent pace. We ignore, we don’t consider, the possibilities and opportunities for development of that sector. There are taxation issues that are pummeling the overnight sector. That if for example critical dialogue and consultation can take place, those things could begin to address some of the concerns that the overnight sector faces that could positively impact its ability to be able to generate more returns, create more jobs, create more opportunities. Fifty million dollars is big money. When you begin to look at what is reported that FDI has been following. So that is going to bring a boost that that particular realm of government; that’s what they may be looking at. Fifty million dollars is sure a boost, but let’s not take it out of the concepts of what are the real needs developmentally for the country. Not necessarily for the short term. We’ve got to being to look at long term in terms of development and the overnight sector has proven itself.”

Stewart Krohn

Stewart Krohn, Chairman, Placencia B.T.I.A.

“Let me answer the question a little bit more directly, gentlemen of the press. If you think that the motivation behind this investment, in this project, is jobs for people of the south, then there is a bridge over the Haulover creek that I’d love to sell you. This is a project about jobs alright, it is a project about economic game, but it is bout a few jobs and a lot of economic gain for a very small number of people. And they don’t live there is the south; they are right there in Belmopan.”