And while they spoke about sugar on the adjournment, the heaviest bill to be tabled was the Southern Deep Port Development Facility Bill. It proposes the revival of the Commerce Bight Port to turn it into a mini cruise port.

The Minister of Logistics outlined the project:

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics
"Mr. Speaker, the Government of Belize has agreed with the Southern the Port Development Ltd to realize the construction of the port and marina at the old Commerce Bight pier in Dangriga. This development plan was initiated by the developer and will see the investment of some Belize 50 million that will have the effect of developing Dangriga's tourism industry in line with the National Sustainable Tourism Masterplan. This investment will add a component of nautical tourism to southern Belize, providing berthing for small ships, luxury yachts, international water taxis, as well as a full service marina for residents of the Dangriga, the offshore islands and southern Belize. This also coincides with the National Ports Policy for Belize for the development of a small port at Commerce Bight. In terms of the critical area of employment, approximately 100 Belizeans will be needed in the construction and development phases of this project. Once completed, it will steadily employ approximately sixty Belizeans for port and marina operations, including boat operators, pilots, deckhands, welders, equipment operators, boat repair and maintenance staff, drivers and security personnel."

But is it a project supported by the government because of the special interests of PUP political operators? We asked the PM, but he skirted around the question. Instead, he emphasized the effect it will have on Stann Creek's development.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think that's a very loaded question. I think what's more important, why is it that we want to try and develop the Commerce Bight Port? The Commerce Bight Port was closed around 2004 if I remember right and every time when election time comes we have been promising the people of Dangriga in particular that we would do everything possible to open the Port. A number of people have come, even the UDP have had a number of people, just fly by night people, trying to get their hands on that Port with no plan. Well now we have a group of investors and I can name one in particular, Basilio Zabaneh, who is one of the largest Belizean investors in the tourist industry, nobody can question his legitimacy and what he has done for the tourist industry. They have put together a plan, a plan where they want to convert the Commerce Bight into a small cruise port. Apparently there are these small cruise ports of high end tourists of about 400, 600 people and so he wants to convert that into a port where these cruise ships can come there, offload the passengers, the passengers can then have a look, especially the Garifuna culture, we're saying Dangriga is the culture capital, well, let's put it to work. The artisans, the food, the craftsman and also to visit different areas in Stann Creek District. The Stann Creek District is one of the most beautiful districts that we have, we have sea, low-lying coasts and mountains so they have everything within that area. So they have put together a group and I'm told that the investment is going to be around 50 million dollars so it's a serious investment that we want to develop that we can live up to the commitment and promise that we made to the people in the south that we are going to do everything possible to open up this area. Now, the beauty about this in a sense is that the taxpayers are not putting any money into it, it's private investment, we make available a port under certain conditions for them to be able to create something new, something good and to create opportunities for Belizeans."