Ensenada 9/11/02
Mecico President Vicente Fox Queseda
inaugurates Cruise Port Village Terminal
by Jens D Kolbowski

It was 10:00 am. Invited VIPs, including yours truly, were waiting for President Vicente Fox Queseda to arrive. After a few minutes, 5 helicopters landed, and President FOX disembarked and shook hands with the people that he was closest to.

First to speak, (in English) Was Mike Powers, Director of Hutchison the parent Company of the Terminal Operators. In his speech he explained about his Company and then made a strong point that Ensenada had lost the Royal Caribbian Cruise line callings because of ancient regulations and unnecessary paperwork and high cost. Finally he announced that due to negotiations in progress, the Royal Caribbean Cruise line may come back next fall to call on Ensenada..

Next to speak was the Federal Secretary of Tourism, Leticia Navarro. She presented many statistics and pointed out that Ensenada had 22% of all the Cruise Ship business that call in to Mexican ports, which is 11% of all Mexico tourism. She also mentioned that overall tourism this year was down from last year, but that the numbers from July were 1% above last year and there was hope that tourism will improve.

Then, The Governor of Baja California Eugenio Elourduy Walther had the word and in his speech promised to help to overcome the ancient regulations and to eliminate unnecessary costs for the Cruise ships to call on Ensenada.

As President FOX was speaking in Spanish, he welcomed us all and in his speech he asked for a 1 minute silence to honor last years victims of 9/11 in New York City. After that he switched to English and assured that he will help the Governor to keep the promises to make cost and paperwork easier for the Cruise port terminal.. He said the new port of Ensenada, to be finished in 2004, would create 600 jobs directly and 4,000 indirectly.

After President FOX left, there was a small party with snacks and drinks of various kinds. Also as a special attraction, The U.S. Tall Ship ( The Rose), that is being used by Fox Studios Baja, as the scenario for the New Russell Crowe film "The Far Side of the World" was moored next to the inauguration site and was open to the public for inspection, which most took the opportunity to do so.

PS: Due to the fact that security was at its maximum, while President Fox was present, I had to surrender my cameras to the Mexican Secret Service, so I was limited in taking Photos, but may get more later??.