By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterOCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
MEMBERS OF the business community in the resort town of Ocho Rios are hopping mad over what they claim is the threat to the future viability of their businesses resulting from the withdrawal of members of the resort patrol from security duties in the town.
Business people are reporting that since the duties of the resort patrol were terminated on October 6, without any prior notice to them, the resort has been flooded with pimps, touts, drug pushers and harassers whose activities they say will only serve to undermine the progress being made in reviving the tourist industry.
Kumar Sujanani, owner of the Gem Palace chain of duty-free stores, described the decision to withdraw the resort patrol without any security replacement as total madness.
The resort patrol had been maintaining security at various points throughout Ocho Rios, including the shipping ports and other areas frequented by visitors and was credited with reducing visitor harassment.
"The resort patrol served their purpose," Mr. Sujanani said.
Businessman Joey Issa said he was somewhat sceptical about the removal of the resort patrol but was hopeful that whatever alternative measures are put in place will be as successful as the patrol officers.
But for Frances Brook-Davis and Karen Bedasie, the situation warrants an urgent response from the authorities. "The pimps and touts are all over the place again," Mrs. Brook-Davis reported. She said they have become so brazen with their acts that even store owners are now being approached for commission from purchases made by visitors. "We are under pressure and we have nobody to talk to," she said.
"It is a very serious problem in the town," Miss Bedasie told The Gleaner. She pointed out that the minute it was announced that the resort patrol was withdrawn, the hustlers and harassers resurfaced in full force. Miss Bedasie, who operates her business in the Ocean Village Shopping Centre, said the security provided by the centre was not enough and that people had become uncomfortable with so many pimps and touts around.
Owner of the Taj Mahal duty-free shopping centre Sanju Chatani agreed that the current situation in Ocho Rios was threatening the viability of the tourist industry. "I think there should have been a replacement team of security personnel to fill the gap immediately after the resort patrol left. It was very unwise to leave the resort open to all the negative elements," Chatani argued. He said the resort patrol was not the best but served a useful purpose.
SEVERAL COMPLAINTS
Pauline Haughton, President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, said that she has been getting several complaints from members of the business sector since the resort patrol were withdrawn and she is calling on the Government to make it a priority to have adequate security personnel in the tourist resort before serious damage is done to the tourism product.
Meanwhile, Ray Palmer, Superintendent of Police in charge of St. Ann's Bay, is assuring members of the business community in Ocho Rios that help is coming soon. He said that by next week at least 30 additional police personnel will be deployed to the town to beef up security.
