§ 33. Commander Courtneyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what warships were present at the opening of Lord Nelson's Dockyard at Antigua; and by whom the Royal Navy was represented.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe Senior Naval Officer, West Indies, was to have been present with the ships H.M.S. "Troubridge" and H.M.S. "Vidal" at the reopening of the Dockyard at Antigua on 14th November. They were, however, diverted to emergency hurricane relief work at British Honduras and were thus unable to attend. The Board of Admiralty sent a message of best wishes on the day, regretting that circumstances prevented the presence of Her Majesty's ships.
§ Commander CourtneyWhile appreciating the reason for the absence of Her Majesty's ships, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that American and Canadian ships were present and that British onlookers regretted the fact that there was no senior Naval officer there? Would it not have been right in the circumstances to have flown out there, perhaps, a Sea Lord from England?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI think that in the circumstances we were obliged to give absolute priority to the relief of Belize and the hardship which was being suffered there, and to let that override one's natural desire to attend such an important function.
§ Mr. KimballWill my hon. Friend bear in mind the immense dollar-earning capacity of this particular tourist attraction, and its tremendous importance to the West Indies, and see if the Navy can give it a fillip?