From left to right, Assamba, Forbes, and Forstmayr
Denise Clarke, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
LOCAL TOURISM interests have started to put plans in place to protect American tourists from possible attacks resulting from the United States-led war on Iraq.
According to a group who met with the police high command in Montego Bay on Friday, they are concerned that American tourists could be seen as "soft targets" for terrorist attacks.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes told The Sunday Gleaner that the police are aware of the increased need for security in the hotel and travel sectors at this time, and that Friday's meeting was to address this concern.
"They are ensuring that they are alert... because terrorists target who they consider as soft targets," Commissioner Forbes said.
With the onset of the U.S./Iraq war, Americans in foreign territories have been warned that they could be targeted by terrorists. But the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Assamba, last week urged players in the industry not to panic because of the US/Iraq war. However, she told The Sunday Gleaner that the country cannot afford to be complacent either.
"We don't want to create panic in our Jamaicans and we don't want to create panic in our visitors but we have to be realistic," Minister Assamba said.
She acknowledged that the Ministry has not communicated formally with the hotels and other segments of the tourism industry concerning the need for increased security measures, saying that they did not see the need for an advisory at this time.
But, the Sandals hotel chain is not waiting for a Government advisory. Mike Brown, director of security for the Gordon 'Butch' Stewart-owned group, said talks have already begun with the police and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) with a view to implementing training for it's security personnel on how to deal with the new threat of terrorist attacks. The hotel has also asked its staff to be on the alert.
"We have been in touch with the Commissioner of Police, and elements of the JDF to assist the sector in putting on some additional training for its internal security. We are trying to get from them some concept on soft target defence measures," Mr. Brown told The Sunday Gleaner.
According to him, Sandals is in the process of arranging a seminar with security personnel from various hotels and the security forces to deal with the issue.
But while acknowledging the need for heightened security measures, other players in the industry insist that the security in place is sufficient to deal with the present situation.
The President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Josef Fortsmayr, while also admitting that there is a new threat, was cautious about drawing too much attention to the matter of security. He said JHTA members have been 'sensitised' on the issue, but pointed out that hotels usually maintain a very high standard of security.
"I certainly don't want to make an issue out of it," Mr. Forstmayr said. "It is, however, a concern and we have addressed our members so it is left to each individual member."
In the meantime, Godfrey Dyer, manager of the Wexford Court hotel in Montego Bay, said hotels which maintain high security standards might not necessarily need to implement additional measures.
"If your security was good then there is not much that you need to do. So properties that have maintained good security that's good enough to carry but properties that have not been doing that of course, need to step up just as a precautionary measure," Mr. Dyer noted.
