An Opposition gone overboard

By RICCI KHAN
| Mon, October 15, 2012 - 12:01 AM

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It is time the Opposition Barbados Labour Party stop opposing for opposing’s sake and start being sensible about Government’s measures. Their latest folly comes as they oppose the Government on the extended hours at the Port to facilitate cruise ships’ offering of previously restricted facilities to their passengers.

Everyone on the island knows of the excellent security measures at the Port. You cannot easily get through those large gates, even to pick up or drop off passengers; and to get unauthorized entry to a cruise ship is virtually impossible.

So to try to mislead the public that casino gambling is being introduced to Barbados and that locals will get on board the cruise ships and use the facilities if they are not passengers is to indicate that we are all idiots.

We are already seeing some benefits of extended stay from cruise ships that overnight or home-port. Take for example the Ventura, which spends every other Friday night in our Port during the cruise season. Its crew and some passengers play rugby against local teams at the Garrison Savannah, watched by at least 300 of their friends and supporters.

Before, during and after the games they try to drink all of the Banks beer from the Clubhouse Bar and then take off to St Lawrence Gap, the Boatyard and Harbour Lights (to mention a few places) to join their friends to eat and party until the wee hours of the morning.

Another ship – The Freewinds – home-ports here. It boasts an excellent band comprising musicians from all over the world, and on its three nights here its band excites the island with some lovely concerts, and its passengers make use of our bars, clubs and restaurants.

Needless to say, the passengers and crew of both of these vessels bring much needed revenue to the island.

Multiply this income by the number of cruise ship passengers and crew expected this winter and see how you are really stemming the survival of Barbados, you members of the Opposition.