St. George’s Mayor On Town Cut
St George’s Mayor Kenneth Bascome has asked people, particularly St. George’s residents, to keep an open mind about the debate surrounding the decision to possibly widen the Town Cut.
The Bermuda Sun previously reported that widening the Town Cut to accommodate larger cruise ships could involve the virtual demolition of three islands, could cost between $48 and $71 million and would not be completed until 2017.
Mayor Bascome said, “The reports that have appeared in the paper are only synopsis of what the report actually goes into depth to state. And I’m just asking people, particularly the St. Georgians, to keep an open mind until the final report is presented and we will be having a meeting on the 11th of October driven by the marine and ports.”
“And we are asking all of the St. Georgians in particular to come to this meeting, and I’m making a special appeal as the Mayor of the Town for the young people to come and let their voices be heard. Because we are on our way out and I believe that it’s the young people who will have to step up and take the Town to the next level.”
“There are number of proposal for developments in the Town to take place. I keep hearing people say that it’s a ghost town so I’m saying to the young people of the town of St. George’s, ‘Let’s get involved’, because I believe that St. George represents the new horizon and the new renaissance.”
“People say to me that I’m a total optimist. Well, St. George’s is my town and I believe that we, with the support of the Department of Tourism, now need to start using the fact that we are a world heritage site. I’ve been invited to come to Portugal in November of this year to participate in the cities….the world heritage site cities.”
“So I’m working right now in an attempt to be able to attend that meeting. And I believe it will give me as the Mayor of the Town of St. George’s the opportunity not only promote the town of St. George’s but be an ambassador for this wonderful place we call Bermuda,” said the Mayor.
When asked if he would like to see the Cut widened, the Mayor said: “Well, I would make this point here. When we refer to the cut, it is called the Town Cut channel because it is man-made. And people have to understand that the old channel, which is on the opposite side of the present channel, you never hear people saying the ‘Town Cut channel’, they say the ‘natural channel.’ ”
“So the Town Cut channel was created by men, and there’s no way in the world that me as a born bred St. Georgian would do anything that I believe would be detrimental to the town or the community of St. George’s.”
If they say that it will cost up to $71 mill, then it will really cost $150 mill. It is way too much to spend and total BS. Even if they do it, ships will still pass by whenever there’s a gust of wind.
In addition it would take decades to pay off this amount – and this all for cruise passengers who don’t spend money. Take the money and build a hotel instead. Get air visitors who actually stay the night and go to restaurants .
Incidentally, I don’t support the tree hugger point of view that we are destroying the environment – since man does this on a daily basis, and the idea that St G would flood in a storm if we widen the cut is pure fantasy and scare mongering.
More important is that the whole idea is totally stupid and not financially viable. $70 million could be used so much more efficiently if we build a hotel and a product – re-brand. The old town will only have a future when we change our old ideas.
St G needs to forget this idiotic proposal and re-brand itself.
I agree that this is the wrong investment. Cruise ship visitors don’t spend enough to warrant this expense. New modest hotel and some REAL entertainment.
@ St G Resident…….I don’t disagree entirely with your comments, however I question whether you are actually a resident of St. George, although you can excuse me as it may be possible that you are but you are blind. Where were you after Fabian hit the town? There was a considerable amount of damage to the town’s waterfront, some of which has still not been fixed. Do you know that the waters outside the Town Cut are the only waters in Bermuda that are not protected by barrier reef? Did you know that heavy seas and storm surge in the advance of a hurricane generally comes from the South-East. Did you notice that Higgs island is South East of the town? Can you imagine how much damage would be done to the town if Higgs Island was removed opening the town up to large Ocean swells in advance of a hurricane with nothing to slow them down as they head toward the town? No island, no reefs; nothing to break these waves down as waves as high as thirty foot or more race across the harbour towards the town. If you think the washing out of the causeway (which is protected by both the reefs and the islands of Castle harbour) was bad wait to you see St. george after a Category three storm with no reefs or islands to protect it.
If you think the destruction of the town by a hurricane after removing Higgs island is fantasy and scare mogering; I have one….um um….three bridges out by the airport to sell you.
I disagree with your comment that Cruise ship passengers do not spend money in St.George’s. As a manager of a gift shop back when there was a steady flow of cruise ships into the town they did indeed spend a lot of money. Restaurants and nightclubs may have had to try harder to entice the tourists to stay and eat/drink rather than go back to the ship, but they did indeed bring life and income to many other kinds of businesses. Isn’t proof enough the state of the town now without cruise ships compared to the full of life old city it was back in the 90s, early 2000′s?
That being said I agree that it is an awful lot of money to spend (and overspend as will surely be the case). I really like Mr. Hayward’s idea of building a pier. It will be less expensive, and will entice both cruise ships and more private yachts. The town can be rebranded to cater to these smaller ships and yachts, and maybe bring some life into the town. Not to mention the added income of shuttling tourists from the pier into the town itself, private tours, etc. Lets make the town into a place that people want to spend time in. it cannot wait until 2017 that is just ridiculous.
Is anyone else wondering where the government will come up with 70 million? I thought government as 1 billion in debt? Do you understand how incredibly stupid it would be to borrow 70 million dollars? I am getting a bad feeling about this, like maybe this has already been planned and pushed throu8hg without any real thought. Cruise ship visitors are low spenders period. This doesn’t make sense.
I would rather see a pier built in the area of the old dock by fort st catherine beach (not sure of the name).
Your talking about T-Dock and your not from St. George’s to know building a dock to house Cruise ships will only kill the eastern side of the Island. There are hundreds of reefs and the Channel just doesn’t support a cruise ship getting that close to main land. smh
2cents I’m with you. Plus, even if there was $70 mill lying around – there’s a lot you can do with that rather than widen the cut to let in low spending tourists who just want to get back on the ship to gamble. Besides, as I said before, they’d bypass St G every time there was a bit of wind. I used to be in agreement of widening the cut – now I think it will be an even bigger waste of money than the second dock in Dockyard.
Wake up St Georges and re-brand yourself now. Build a hotel with Bermuda’s first casino. That would waken the place up. Get on with it.
Don’t miss the meeting on 11th. I’ll be there for sure.
Widening the cut will take too long and cost too much. I support the idea presented by Henry Hayward, former mayor, to build a dock with the similar idea used in Dockyard. It will cost much less, cause way less disruption to the environment and will be available much sooner! St. George’s can’t afford to wait years down the road and the islands in the cut will be left as they should be.
I was thinking the same thing. I’d like to find out more about Henry Hayward’s idea because at first I was gong ho for widening the cut, until I saw that it won’t be available until 2017! St. George’s needs life now! All you see when walking along Water Street and York Street are closed businesses. It’s a shame St. George has come to this.
I missed that Tobacco Bay. Where will the dock be built. There is one in St. George. Can you help me with this?
Sorry, but I see the meeting is October 11th, but where and at what time?
I would guess at Pennos Wharf cruise ship terminal and most likely 7pm but I’m sure you will see it posted closer to the date Weldon.
Clinton, I’m leading a diving expedition to the town cut this weekend, weather permitting, to record video and stills. So few people know what it looks like down there and I’ve never done a dive there before. Will be interesting to see.
I will find out when and where the meeting is and post it here.
II Corinthians…..Chapter 12…….
He who sinkith my ship in the channel shall have Casinos………
No. I don’t want it.
Cruise ships can’t come into St. Andrea’s Island off the coast of Colombia, South America so they have shuttle boat services to ferry cruise ship passengers to and from the Island. The cruise ship berths about three (3) or more miles from shore.
I know, I experienced it on a cruise from LA, CA through Panama Channel, stopped at St. Andrea’s Island (Cartagena, Colombia had war) and on to Bermuda. Wonderful ferry ride experience.
Why can’t Mega cruise ships berth about 3 (three) miles distance off the St. George’s Cut and ferry passengers in, huh!! NO WIDENING OF THE CUT, NO DESTRUCTION OF ISLANDS, or the destruction of the little amount of beaches in St. George’s and BOOKOO jobs, tourist $$$ for locals?? Huh, Huh??