A view of the Ken Wright Pier in Port Antonio, an entry point for tourism in the parish of Portland. - File

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Dennis Morrison said he believes there should be a concentrated effort in developing Port Antonio, Portland, as an upscale resort area.

According to the JTB boss, Port Antonio should be transformed into a town where the people are connected with the tourist industry and not overrun by squatting, anti-social behaviour and hostility, which has happened elsewhere.

"Work on the highway from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio is on in earnest," he said.

"In a matter of 18 months to two years, access to Port Antonio willbe so well established that we will be well on our way to making up ground in terms of the level of development here," he added.

Modernisation

Morrison pointed out that upon completion of segment three of the North Coast Highway from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio, the next stage of road infrastructure for the eastern side of Portland will be the road network from Port Antonio to Harbour View.

He said the roads in the east, leading into St. Thomas, are badly in need of modernisation, as the last major work on that side of the island took place in the 1960s, when the late Ken Jones was Minister of Transport, Communications and Works.

"I will be lobbying as a private citizen with the relevant ministers and officials to have this leg of the road network become a priority, once the third segment of the North Coast Highway is completed," he added.

Morrison also noted that it will make a vast difference to the eastern side of the town, heading into Manchioneal, Hectors River and then St. Thomas.

According to him, the parish of St. Thomas is also to be transformed into a resort area.

He said that already a major investor has acquired land in a certain part of that parish and plans are in place to develop a resort there.

Morrison indicated that developments of that nature in St. Thomas should make a huge difference to that part of the island which has lost ground economically, as sugar and banana, the pillars of that parishe's economy, are on the decline.

The JTB chairman explained that new activities are needed to replace the dying banana and sugar industry in St. Thomas. He said the signing of a contract for the Yallahs Bridge is the first step in addressing some of those problems.

-Gareth Davis