THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WOULD be grateful if you would publish this letter in response to your Letter of the Day for Monday, August 11, 2003 from L. Lawson Douglas. I write on behalf of the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) -- a non-government organisation that manages the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park under delegation from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and in collaboration with both NEPA and the Forestry Department. Under this arrangement, the JCDT is responsible for the Blue Mountain Peak Trail and the recreational area about three miles from the Peak - Portland Gap.
I would like to thank the writer for his interest and concern regarding the Blue Mountain Peak Trail, and to indicate that whilst neither the Trail nor the facilities at the Blue Mountain Peak are in the condition that we would like to see, we are making efforts towards improving these and the following is a brief response to his specific recommendations.
Firstly, with respect to the suggestions regarding facilities at the Peak: based on the forest ecosystem at the Peak, and international standards for National Park and ecotourism management, the Park's co-managers have determined that it would not be appropriate to place the facilities described e.g. cottages, canteen etc. at the Peak. Specific reasons for this decision include the difficulty in manning the Peak and problems with waste management. We would therefore prefer if visitors did not over-night at the Peak.
Despite this, and recognising that this will happen anyway, we have just had an assessment done of the damaged facilities at the Peak and are expecting to receive an estimate for the restoration of the toilet and a shelter. At this time, cabin, toilets, camp-sites, canteen etc. are available at Portland Gap and from other guest-houses/hostels in the area.
Secondly, with respect to the Peak Trail from Portland Gap the trail is regularly maintained and whilst it is now in need of some additional work, a recent visit by representatives from the US Forest Service indicated that the standard of the Trail was very good. There is a short section of the Trail that passes through very rocky terrain and it would be impossible to remove the boulders, however we will investigate packing it with earth.
Thirdly, with respect to a helicopter pad, we have investigated this for the Peak and closer points, however the weather conditions and terrain would make this facility useless. At present, in the event of an emergency, the Rangers (who are trained in Search & Rescue, First Aid and CPR) contact the Jamaica Defence Force and arrange for assistance. Medi-vacs are usually done from Portland Gap using a spinal board and rapelling techniques, or if weather will not permit, the injured person is transported to Penlyne Castle where helicopters can land.
In order to understand the situation at the Blue Mountain Peak and along the Trail, it is important to be aware of the context within which the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park is managed. As described above, the management is shared between the JCDT and the relevant government agencies (NEPA and Forestry), however the vast majority of the funds come from grants and other funds that the JCDT is able to raise. In general, grants do not provide funding for salaries and so the persons employed part-time from the communities nearest the Trail are paid from the fees collected at Portland Gap as well as the rental of the cabins and the tuck shop located there. A recreational area is also operated at Holywell, just above Newcastle. Any funds earned from the recreational areas beyond that required for maintaining and improving the sites, would be used for conservation of the National Park in general, however business has not yet reached this stage partly due to inadequate marketing (and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has begun to provide some assistance with this) but also because many persons do not pay the small fee collected at Portland Gap.
Finally, it should be noted, that after much negotiation with NEPA, the National Park User Fees Regulations have just been passed and the user fees for the Blue Mountain Peak Trail are now set by law at JA$200 for residents and US$20 for visitors. We are in the process of completing signs with this information to be installed at strategic points before Portland Gap. In addition, hikers to the Blue Mountain Peak Trail are encouraged to pay the user fee to the JCDT (the agency delegated under the legislation to collect these fees) at our Kingston office prior to going to the Peak. This would reduce the security risk and allow hikers to obtain useful and relevant information about the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.
We at the JCDT look forward to the support of your readers as we are indeed seeking to make the Blue Mountain Trail an eco-tourism attraction.
I am, etc.,
SUSAN OTUOKON
Executive Director
Jamaica Conervation
and Development Trust
