WESTERN BUREAU:
POLICE RIOT squad yesterday kept vigil outside the gates of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Rose Hall, Montego Bay, in the wake of Thursday's fiery protest by construction workers in front of the property. However, the protesters who had demonstrated for three days previously were nowhere near the site yesterday.
When The Gleaner visited the scene, a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter was seen flying over the hotel's property, before it landed on the golf course where several members of the police riot squad were on spot.
On Thursday, about 100 construction workers employed to the Austin Brown and Genco Construction companies, blocked the main gate at the hotel, and demanded money which they claimed was owed to them by the contractors. The protesters vented their anger by preventing vehicles from entering or leaving the property.
A section of a nearby golf course was set on fire. However, the management of the Ritz Carlton said the golf course, which was lit several times by the irate crowd, was the property of the nearby Half Moon Hotel.
Executive assistant manager of Half Moon, Myrtle Dwyer, confirmed that the hotel owns the golf course, but said no major damage was done to the property. "The damage is not irreparable," she emphasised.
Meanwhile, six people who were arrested, are scheduled to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, to answer charges of breaching the Anti Litter Act.
They are Pamela Bulgin, Oliver Little, Clarence Gordon, Donavon Blake, and Rohan Turner, all of St. James addresses; and Nimshoy Allen, of a Portland address.
General manager of the Ritz Carlton, Douglas Brooks, said despite what has been happening outside its walls, the hotel would be going ahead with the planned August 25 opening date. He noted that there has been no negative impact overseas and reiterated the resort's earlier stance that the demonstrations had nothing to do with the Ritz Carlton.
"If we are disappointed about anything, it is the fact that the level of enthusiasm that we had going into our opening day has been somewhat tarnished by outside distractions," Mr. Brooks said. "Nobody wants their name associated with negative headlines and yes I am a little concerned about the way our name has been portrayed."
Mr. Brooks added that he was comfortable that the Ministry of Labour had acted as an independent arbitrator and had in fact dismissed the claims of the construction workers as baseless.
"The Ministry has investigated the matter and has decided that the workers didn't have a case," he continued. "I know it may appear fashionable to demonstrate in front of the Ritz Carlton but it should be remembered that we are here to contribute to tourism."
Meanwhile, Minister of Sport, Portia Simpson Miller, has appealed to the protesters and the management of the construction companies to settle their dispute peacefully and rationally.
She said there was the potential for real disastrous consequences arising from the impasse and urged the parties to act quickly to have the matter settled before further damage was done to Jamaica's image.
