The Caribbean Community is deeply disturbed to learn of a decision by Carnival Cruise Line to cease calling at Port St. George's, Grenada with virtually immediate effect.

Carnival is the largest cruise line calling at Grenadian ports, and accounts for approximately half of the cruise passengers to the country.

Such a cessation of its cruise activity will therefore create a most unwelcome situation for the government and people of Grenada, particularly those involved in the Tourist industry, including the small artisans and traders who depend heavily on cruise tourism.

A most unfortunate aspect of this threatened action is the manner in which the Grenadian authorities learnt of this action.

A reason cited for the action by Carnival Cruise Line recalls the objection raised nearly two years ago when the Environmental Levy of US$1.50 per passenger had been imposed on cruise passengers by the countries of the Eastern Caribbean region to help meet the cost of solid waste management and disposal arising in part from the operations of the very cruise industry. Tourism, the Region's largest industry, is often a trade-off between the economic benefits to be derived and its likely environmental and social impacts. The people of the Region cannot afford to stand aside and let the very basis of the tourism industry - the environment - be destroyed, ironically, by the industry itself.

Reports that cruise passengers are now indicating a preference for spending more time cruising and less time in ports have been advanced as a basis for the decision to reduce the number of port calls. Such a reduction in port calls however is likely to jeopardise the viability of the substantial investments that have been made - many at the behest of the cruise lines - to support the industry.

The Caribbean Community calls on Carnival Cruise Line not to pursue this recently reported course of action which will bring hardship to bear on the people of Grenada, and ultimately, on the entire Caribbean Community. Instead the Community strongly advises that the Carnival Cruise Line and the Government of Grenada enter into discussions with a view to resolving whatever differences there may be to their continuing mutually valuable cooperation.