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Falmouth port readies for callers

Published:Thursday | February 3, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Workmen continue the efforts to ready the cruise-ship terminal in Trelawny to meet the February 17 deadline. Photo by Ruddy Mathison

Ruddy Mathison, Gleaner Writer

FALMOUTH, Trelawny:

JES OLSEN, project manager at the multimillion-dollar cruise-ship terminal in Trelawny, has declared that concerns raised by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Limited (RCCL) and the Port Authority of Jamaica, which led to the diversion of a cruise ship from the port last month, are now being addressed.

Olsen said Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, out of Galveston, Texas, was still expected to make its maiden call on February 17.

He told The Gleaner that except for the main lobby, which is 70 per cent complete, all the other buildings were 90 per cent ready, and that he was satisfied with the pace of the work.

When The Gleaner visited the site yesterday, workmen were busy landscaping areas around some of the buildings, as well as paving the driveways leading to the port.

John Tercek, vice-president of commercial develop-ment at RCCL, said on Tuesday that a number of initiatives have been taking place since the delay, with some being spearheaded by the Port Authority of Jamaica.

He, however, pointed out that there was still a lot left to be done in terms of cosmetic work in the town.

"A lot of buildings need to be restored. There are a lot of opportunities for entrepreneurs. There is going to be a lot of work for renovators of buildings; there is a need for service jobs," he said, while addressing a Stocks and Securities Limited Investor forum held at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel in St Andew on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, mayor of Falmouth Collen Gager, said the council was working with the police, National Works Agency and National Solid Waste Management Authority to rid the town of old motor vehicles and building materials. He said the parish council was spearheading the painting of buildings in the town, including the landmark Falmouth Town Hall.

RCCL, under the deal with the Port Authority of Jamaica, has guaranteed 400,000 passenger visits to the new port over 20 years, or 10,000 passengers per year.

Dionne Rose contributed to this story.