Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

Reid

Kerr-jarrett

WESTERN BUREAU:

As a new political era dawns, stakeholders in western Jamaica are not only anticipating the delivery on promises made by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), but also a continuation of development projects initiated by the outgoing administration.

"We are hoping that the Government will come good on its promises made during the election," says Dennis Seiv-wright, president of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. "Any Govern-ment who is serious about going forward must include the business sector in the decision-making process."

Seivwright believes that as far as the development of Trelawny is concerned, the previous administration was on the right path.

"This showed in the election results in North Trelawny (in which the People's National Party candidate, Dr. PatrickHarris, was returned) that the people were satisfied, and they will be looking for continuity of projects such as Harmony Cove and the cruise-ship port," adds Seivwright. "The JLP has endorsed those projects also, and we would not want to see a slowing down of this activity. So, this administration will have to get on-board quickly."

interesting period

According to O. Dave Allen, chairman of the Montego Bay-based Com-munity Organisation for Management and Sustainable Develop-ment, the JLP's victory ushers in an interesting period in Jamaica.

"I have an interest in what the new administration's vision is in terms of housing. I will be seeking audience with the new minister to bring to his attention the kind of matrix, in terms of a community-driven approach, to address the issue of squatting in Jamaica, and in particular, the Operation Pride sites," states Allen. "This is an issue that needs to be fast-tracked, given the impact it has on the economy, especially in the resort areas of Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios."

urgent issues

While commending the JLP on its victory at the polls, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Com-merce and Industry, Pauline Reid, calls for urgent attention to issues such as affordable housing, a development plan for the parish, expansion of the cruise and cargo ports, the construction of the Montego Bay bypass, and the proposed convention centre.

"There is no doubt that western Jamaica will shape the economic future of the country; however, it is imperative that these developments are done in a structured manner and are in sync with anticipated growth," she says.

Melody Haughton, president of the Montego Bay Craft Vendors' Association, wants a transformation of the craft markets into more visitor-friendly facilities.

"We are hoping that the commitment that was made by the previous administration to assist us with loans to get back on our feet, following the fire that destroyed our businesses, will be honoured by this Government," she maintains.

Josef Forstmayr, former president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and managing director of Round Hill Hotel, says the new administration needs to continue on the path of internationalising the tourism industry.

"We have to give the PNP administration high marks in terms of tourism development, as we have seen major infrastructural investments, such as the airport, the roads, to the potential of new hotels and a new conference centre, as without first-class, developed infrastructure, you are not going to find first-class investments coming into the region," argues Forstmayr.

marketing

"I want to see a greater focus in terms of marketing the island as a destination; US$32 million is the budget that has been constant for the Jamaica Tourist Board over the last eight, nine years and it is just not sufficient to promote almost 30,000 hotel rooms."

Forstmayr continued: "We need to ensure that the destination is visible in the market, so that the existing product that is here, be it the luxury-end, the small hotels or the villas, will get a fair share of the existing market, so that they are not sucked up by the mega resorts."

In endorsing Forst-mayr's comments, JHTA president Wayne Cum-mings says US$100 million is a realistic amount to bolster the island's tourism marketing programme.

"The current amount is inadequate. We are competing against emerging markets and even some that have always been strong, such as the Latin America, Mexican, Cuban and the Dominican Republic," he says.

small-hotel initiative

The JHTA head believes that a small-hotel initiative to bring back viability, entrenching the provision in the tax code that protects hotel workers' gratuities from PAYE deductions, and the creation of a policy for a tourism overseas work programmes, that finds a balance between the hotels and Government, are among his wish list for the new Government.

Businessman Mark Kerr-Jarrett believes the closeness of the election gives the opportunity for a new form of unified governance to emerge.

"We mustnow put partisan politics and any other personal sentiments aside for the benefit of Jamaica and get down to the business of running the country's affairs," he says. "The fact that the JLP only holds a slight majority over the PNP demands a lot of cooperation on both sides of the House."

He points to several issues that need urgent attention, such as the restructuring of residential communities, and the reconfiguration of the agricultural sector.