Maduro wants Queen to remove NCL & DCL agreements
During his radio programme, EGM show aired on ZRod 103.7FM on February 7, 2014, Maduro termed the agreement for NCL a nasty agreement for its apparent exclusion of local taxi operators.
One clause of the NCL agreement stipulated that: Taxi operators and other ground transport operators who are not designated by Norwegian as Norwegian excursion tour operators may be given access to the designated areas of the port for such taxi operators. BVI Ports Authority will use reasonable efforts to control and monitor such taxi operators so as to minimise aggressive solicitation of Norwegian passengers by such tour operators.
Maduro took particular offense to this and stated that local ‘taxi boys’ were made out to be rude and uncivilised. “Why ridicule our taxi boys?” Maduro questioned, “They’re not worse than anybody else.” He added that this was clear discrimination and said Norwegian should stay on their ships.
He questioned the power of Norwegian to choose how locals will be treated in the taxi business, “the next thing you know they will be bringing white people from all over the world,” the talk show host shouted.
Calling on the Queen
While expressing that Norwegian would not be obliged to employ Virgin Islanders based on the agreement, Maduro termed the agreement a disgraceful one and felt the situation merited the Queen’s involvement.
“This is a disgraceful and dreadful agreement. Our people must not allow it to stand. We are going to call on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to remove this thing from the face of the people of the British Virgin Islands,” Maduro declared.
He noted that he would be writing a letter to the Queen in this regard. "We are burying our own taxi guys alive," Maduro said.
He called for systems to be put in place to ensure that cruise ships be allowed to stay overnight and felt the lack of casino gambling was a significant factor in the reason ships did not do so.
“We must commit them to do their gambling. There is nothing wrong with the gambling and that’s the reason why they don’t stay overnight because we don’t want them gambling here.”
He pointed out however, that Puerto Rico lottery tickets were being sold “right in front the bank” at the same time.
“That arrangement with Norwegian and the other cruise line is unconstitutional!” Maduro exclaimed.
The agreements, which were signed with government on January 17, 2014 have since been made public and are now available at the High Court registry.
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18 Responses to “Maduro wants Queen to remove NCL & DCL agreements”
But I DO agree with Edmond's passion about something smelling fishy. That despite what the audit uncovered (conflict of interest, corruption and illegalities), that the government went ahead and signed an agreement- then it was to be secret- then public (if we are to believe that all the fine print is public). We do not know what the pier park shopping mall will look like, what chain stores are going in, and are there any public meetings about this? I would think that Maria's guests would care where the air-conditioning units are going to go, how the lights are, noise, traffic etc. A development this size usually requires a model to look at shadows, height, volume, set backs, scale, appropriateness of design etc. (of course that requires zoning and enforcement). We have none of that. the NDP has hijacked road town and the community.