... 42-year vendor sees return to glory days
LAST TUESDAY, Port Antonio welcomed the first of three cruise ships, with the other two docking at the Ken Wright shipping pier on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, another cruise ship is scheduled to arrive today, which means that Portlanders, for the first time in three decades, would have welcomed four cruise ships in a one-week period.
Craft vendor 76-year-old Catherine Henry, who has been plying her trade for 42 years and was among those pleading for the return of cruise ships, as her livelihood was under threat, sported a broad smile when she spoke with The Gleaner.
According to Henry, the signs are positive that serious attempts are being made to take Port Antonio back to its glory days.
“I still remember when Port Antonio got cruise ships seven days per week,” said Henry.
She added “Those were the days when ships like Nordic Prince, Sun Viking, Star Ward, Boheme, Vera Cruise, South Ward, and Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras reportedly made one visit) flooded the Boundbrook banana wharf, Ken Wright Pier, and the East Harbour. Everyone in the tourism industry benefited and the town boomed with entertainment, especially at the theatres and nightclubs. This is a positive move on the part of those in charge of the tourism industry.”
On Friday, dozens of tourists were spotted at the Errol Flynn Marina drinking beer, while engaging in talks with locals. Visitors were also spotted swimming in the pool at the marina, while some went Rio Grande rafting and others spent time combing through the town of Port Antonio, which now has a new look and is garbage free.