Groundbreaking Ceremony at Commerce Bight Pier Marks New Era for Dangriga’s Tourism

The Commerce Bight Pier was the site for a ground breaking ceremony this afternoon in Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District.  It is a pier that has been the center of controversy as far back as 2020 when the previous administration granted Recological Services Limited a 25-year contract to manage the facility.  When the Briceno administration came into power later that year, it took the matter to Parliament and the contract was canceled.  The cancelation came with a promise from the government to transform the site and its surroundings into a tourism center.  It has been some years in the making, and today ground was officially broken for the development.  According to Prime Minister John Briceno, a group of investors including Basilio Zabaneh would have to inject some fifty million dollars into the development.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Despite the fact that we were totally committed to opening up the Commerce Bight we had to make sure that we have the right investors and the right plan. Basilio Zabaneh as he pointed out has already been in this type of business and the small specialized cruise industry and having done that before we believe that it will be easier for him to replicate it once again but in a larger scale whereby he will be managing the pier, the port here and then provide other facilities here on this piece of land and the exception is that then the whole road, the Commerce Bight Road that all of that land could also be developed into restaurants, artisan shops, areas of culture and hotels. Look at what’s in front of you, it sells itself it doesn’t need a lot to sell and this is the deepest natural port that Belize has so to get the ships here would not be difficult. I think the difficulty is the actual investment I’m told it’s going to be around $50 million dollars to be able to uplift it. This place has been abandoned so I’m sure you’ve walked the pier it requires a lot of work for it to be upgraded to international standards.”

The Commerce Bight Pier is a deep water port that has been recognized way back in the 1800s.  In May, the Minister with responsibility for Ports, Michel Chebat, had introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that saw certain exemptions on taxes and duties for the Southern Deep Port Development Limited, which is the company undertaking the Commerce Bight Project. The ground breaking took place at two o’clock this afternoon and was followed by a tour of the Ready Call Center attended by several members of Cabinet.  At four thirty, the group moved over the future site of a multi-purpose park in Dangriga.  The park is a grandiose project that will add to the tourist attractions.  Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler had given the thumbs up from the onset, and was present at this evening’s event.  He spoke to Love News on the port as well as the park project.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism: “We had a group of consultants come in to the country to look all over the country to tell us where are the best places for marinas, ports, that type of thing. They flagged this area as one with great potential that reminded them so much of a facility there in the Bahamas like fifteen years ago and they recommended that we shouldn’t have this port facility wasted. I also believe that with that investment or with this investment and other investments that we’re doing in and around Dangriga Town it will create some energy, some combustion for people to invest, for people to make a decent living for themselves and their family.” 

Reporter: So I just want to ask you, the multipurpose park tell us about that and how you think that’s going to improve visitor experience.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism: “Well I mean that is a next level project. Will totally totally change the dynamics out in that area and for me if you look this has sat idly for close to twenty years, it’s waste of prime real estate. Now that they’re investing in it it’s going to have some value, you can monetize all this area around here. We’re also looking at a port facility or a marina facility in Punta Gorda and we’re working with a branding company to do so. And so we strongly believe that part of the growth path for sustainable development is the southern districts. So Stann Creek and Toledo district.”

Area Representative Dr Louis Zabaneh has been at the center of pushing Dangriga to become a tourist destination, and to develop projects that would provide job opportunities.  In speaking with the media, Dr Zabaneh, says the Commerce Bight Pier and the Multipurpose Park will see dozens of jobs for residents in the area.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative (Dangriga): “The reopening of the Commerce Bight Port is significant. During its construction phase, the first three years you’ll be seeing about a hundred and six full time persons working there. Once the construction phase is completed there will be steady employment for sixty persons not including persons who will be working with immigration and customs and then the multiplier effect for those people who will be doing tours etc. And then the impact that it will have on the multipurpose park. So all of these things adding up to significant employment in our community.”

Closing off today’s list of events is the endorsement of Dr Louis Zabaneh as the PUP Standard Bearer for Dangriga.  His endorsement convention starts at six thirty this evening at the Russell Chiste Auditorium.  We will have more on these events in subsequent news reports.