Cruise shipping gets a blow in Ocho Rios

• Cruise line employee claims he was threatened

Tourism officials in Ocho Rios, St Ann have expressed alarm at allegations that taxi operators threatened an employee of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vessel that docked in the town last Wednesday.

In a letter to the St Ann Chamber of Commerce, Gary Williams, a shopping consultant with NCL, alleged he was threatened after he was accused by taxi operators of stealing their business.

According to Williams as he exited the Reynolds Pier to enter a car he was blocked and threatened with physical harm by the taxi operators.

Williams, who is employed to the cruise line to give guests shopping and port information, said he was leaving the Reynolds Pier around 11 a.m. to assist some guests when he was offered, and accepted, a ride by one tour operator.

"As we approached the gate there was a group of taxi drivers that started to yell at me, saying, 'you are stealing away our business. You are not allowed to tell these guests to walk to town. You will pay for stealing our money we should make." claimed Williams.

"As I was trying to close the door to the car the men then grabbed the door and would not let me close it. I told the men that my job is to give the guests the shopping information and port information, it is my job. I was not doing anything wrong or anything to hurt their business."

Williams said the incident has left him believing it was unsafe for him or his wife to work from the pier in Ocho Rios.

Responding to the allegations, vice-president of the chamber Leopold Williams told The Gleaner that the matter has been reported to the police.

Shocked

"We are shocked at what happened. We didn't know that type of harassment was going on," said the Chamber executive.

"We're trying to get in touch with and have dialogue with the government to see what we can do. Something needs to be done and fast," he added.

Sue Morris, a member of the Chamber's Cruise Shipping Council also expressed disappointment.

"Things just have to change. If we want to keep cruise shipping in Ocho Rios then things have got to change. We will have severe repercussions from this, the financial fallout will be huge," Morris said.

Tourism interests in St Ann also expressed concern that the development could threaten recent gains made by officials in Ocho Rios to attract cruise ships following the fallout caused by the opening of the Falmouth pier.

The NCL only returned to Ocho Rios on October 19 after a six-year absence and has promised 34 calls this season, with a continuation in coming seasons dependent on the level of harassment in Ocho Rios.

Senior Superintendent in charge of St Ann, Carlton Wilson later told The Gleaner that any report alleging threats against a person would be dealt with according to the law.

"If a threat is made then I'll certainly have to deal with it," said Wilson.