THE EDITOR, Sir:
I EXPERIENCED the joy of a child receiving a birthday present when I read that the Port Authority of Jamaica has purchased Navy Island, the most prime piece of real estate in the entire nation.
Indeed, this purchase is a fitting birthday present to celebrate Jamaica's 40th anniversary of Independence and congratulations must be given to all concerned, who have taken the bold and necessary step to acquire the property and develop it on Jamaica's behalf and for Jamaica's profit.
The modern history of Navy Island has been colourful. I remember as a child my only encounter with the fabled Errol Flynn in the days when he owned the island. I was visiting Titchfield Hotel with my sister, swimming on the beach when Flynn came down to the pier facing the Island. Seeing us, he asked with a big smile: "Do you want to swim across?" Good swimmers, we stood up eager to explore the mysterious island about which there were so many amazing stories. Just as we dived off the pier into the sea, Flynn shouted: "There are sharks in the channel!"
It was several decades later before I got up the courage to make that swim over to Flynn's island - a journey that only the brave and fearless undertake - but I was greatly rewarded to find myself on a beautiful tropical island which appeared like something out of Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe. Navy Island was a miniature Jamaica, with beaches, hills, lawns, trees and great natural beauty.
On my first visit, Navy Island was privately owned by an American couple, the Caseys, who leased house sites to wealthy friends who sought seclusion. The island was a secret paradise, carefully preserved in its natural state. Mrs. Casey delighted in scattering fresh hibiscus flowers around her house each day.
The island was later sold to another American, who tried to operate it as a resort hotel and marina with an Errol Flynn theme. Sadly, Flynn's name and risqué reputation had little value in attracting tourists, and the island's fortunes lapsed. They lapsed further when the Panton's effort as hoteliers failed, and the island has languished still further despite attempts to purchase it by American film and music interests.
Frankly, as a Portlander and Jamaican, I am glad that neither of these efforts by overseas buyers succeeded. Navy Island is too important and too precious a part of our national heritage, to be owned by non-Jamaicans or even private Jamaican interests. This is what makes me so happy about the purchase by the Government of Jamaica through the Port Authority.
It has been announced that a team of consultants will advise the Port Authority on the best way for development of the island. Having seen the failed attempts to run Navy Island as just another resort, I would like to offer a few suggestions on creating a resort that would give tourists a good reason to visit Portland, because I believe that Navy Island must (and can) become a spectacular jewel in Jamaica's tourism diadem.
First, with the rich Maroon history of Portland, it would be interesting to create an upscale African-themed luxury resort styled to attract the Ralph Lauren-Banana Republic market. Cottages could be named after African nations with appropriate decor and Navy Island could become the first Jamaican resort offering an Afro-Jamaican experience.
Lectures on Discovery Channel-type Afro-centric themes by visiting professors and cultural presentations from Jamaica's Afro-centric entertainers, would provide the resort's entertainment. The spa would offer Afro-centric herbal treatments and African holistic therapies.
There would be accommodation for artists-in-residence whose work-in-progress will be part of the visitor's experience. These are some of the features that can be incorporated into the resort's offerings.
Giving Navy Island an Afro-centric theme would attract not only the 'Ralph Lauren jet set,' but definitely prove attractive to the 'Oprah Winfrey/BET' set of affluent Afro-Americans who already travel to Africa and would be intrigued to find an African-style resort close to the USA.
I am reminded of the Kura Hulanda Museum and Resort in Curacao, where a Dutch millionaire Jakob Gelt Dekker has created a modern African museum and a small but stylish resort next door in which members of African and European royalty regularly stay.
Ralph Lauren has a home in Jamaica, and Chris Blackwell is our Jamaican version of Jakob Gelt Dekker, so our local consultants need not look outside our shores for advice on how to make Navy Island a world-class destination appealing to these affluent markets.
The people of Portland have gazed for decades on the beautiful jewel of Navy Island floating like a ship at anchor between the two equally beautiful harbours of Port Antonio. The arrival of the Tall Ships in June and the promised development of Navy Island brings renewed hope that Port Antonio and Portland will rise like a phoenix from the ashes of its tourist industry into a new incarnation.
This new Government-led development will rightly focus on Port Antonio's harbour, the original source of its wealth. I believe that if developers combine this focus with Port Antonio's exclusiveness and snob appeal in a truly Jamaican resort, Navy Island will finally become the successful tourist resort the people of Port Antonio, Portland and Jamaica hope it will be.
I send my congratulations, encouragement and thanks to all involved in giving Jamaica this marvellous 40th Birthday Present. ONE LOVE.
I am etc.,
BARBARA BLAKE HANNAH
Kingston 6
jamediapro@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
