An online reader in Britain has recorded his sadness at the photograph of the ramshackle building which houses the Port Royal Post Office which we published as a 'Tyrone's Watch' feature on Tuesday. The reader's views, printed on the page opposite in today's Noteworthy column, notes his sadness at the state of the building. It is a condition reflecting the long-standing neglect of potential development of a valuable aspect of our historical heritage.

There has been much talk about the redevelopment of Port Royal and other heritage sites across the island. But that's about it.

As one Port Royal resident quoted in Tuesday's feature rightly said, the post office was a monumental mess that was neither fit for man nor mail. The deplorable state of the graffiti-marred building that currently houses the post office in the history-rich Port Royal is a disgrace and an indictment on successive government administrations. And, to think that the original post office was allowed to deteriorate to a state that forced the authorities to relocate the postal services to the present building is nothing short of scandalous because the building was the administrative block for the police training school from 1957 to the 1980s when it was removed to Twickenham Park.

The election manifestos of both the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) mention the development of Port Royal. While the JLP says it plans to accelerate the development of the historic site along with other heritage sites, the PNP plans to expand the heritage tourism sector by investing in cultural heritage assets. Whichever of the parties forms the next government, they must make good on these pledges.

For too long the potential of Port Royal for profitable development has been neglected by the authorities. Last year June, Kingston Mayor, Desmond McKenzie appealed to the Government to make the development of Port Royal a priority tourism project. More than a decade ago, a project was launched with the aim of recapturing the splendour of the township and make it a world-class historical attraction rich in the exploits of 17th century buccaneering. Nothing materialised.

Plans for the redevelopment of Port Royal resurfaced in 2002 under a 'Masterplan for Sustainable Development Project'. In addition to Port Royal, this project targeted three more heritage sites - Falmouth, Trelawny; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; and Seville, in St. Ann. The Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment & Culture told this newspaper that the project stipulated completion over an eight-year period, spanning 2002-2010. We are now in the latter half of 2007 and very little has been done to indicate any serious commitment.

In 1992, Robert Stephens, then director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, said there were tremendous opportunities for development and investments in Port Royal. He also noted that a number of private sector investors, including merchant banks, were in the process of putting together a tourism project for the town. Those plans were never seen through. In 2004, Mr. Stephens said several major players were showing interest, but this must be actively encouraged by the Government of Jamaica. Three years after that advice, nothing much has changed. The historic site is still a mess.

Our British reader has sounded a wake-up call, pointing to the example of the famous Nelson's Dock Yard in Antigua. The ghosts of ancient Port Royal must throw a scare into those guilty of gross neglect.