By Garwin Davis, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE TOURISM industry in Portland is sinking fast, as hotels and attractions struggle to cope with the aftermath of the flood disaster that ranks among the worst in the parish's history.
All the attractions, including the popular rafting on the Rio Grande, have had to suspend operations because of flood damage. The capital, Port Antonio, remains inaccessible by the main roads, and the much relied on group tours from Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios have been suspended.
"This is devastation time for this town," said Derron Wood, tour operator. "We have never seen anything like this before and I don't know how much longer we can continue. To say that things are pretty bad would be putting it mildly."
Also, the prestigious America Sail competition to be held in Port Antonio next year could be in jeopardy. No work has been done at the marina site for the last four weeks, throwing off the timetable to ready the docks for the race.
"We are hoping to get things rolling again soon," said Deputy Mayor Dexter Rholand.
The main roads leading into Port Antonio remain closed.
Other tourism interests there have seen almost no business. "We have been hard hit," said Suzanne Levy, owner of Trident Villas. "Over the past week we might have seen about two visitors passing through with nothing to indicate the situation will change anytime soon."
Ms. Levy notes that her situation is indicative of what has been happening with other properties, adding that everybody is feeling the effects of the flood disaster.
"I don't think even Hurricane Gilbert had such an impact on Port Antonio," she said. "The accessibility to get here is the biggest problem as we are basically now cut off from the rest of the island."
Wuhl Gatsch, general manager of Jamaica Palace Hotel, Drapers, near Port Antonio, said that his 80-room property has been forced to close down several rooms.
"If nothing is coming in then we have to cut staff," he said. "I haven't seen a paying guest in a couple of days and I really don't know how much longer we can go."
The Jamaica Tourist Board has been appealing to tourism players on the North Coast, as well as to the domestic airline, Air Jamaica Express, to do all they can for Port Antonio.
