A more visitorfriendly Port Royal needed

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I MUST admit, I was tardy in doing what I told myself and others who were with me on a planned fun trip to Fort George in Port Royal to treat the wards and caregivers of the Athlone Wing of The Mona Rehab Centre on Saturday, June 30.

Reading Patria Kay Aarons’ opinion in The Gleaner of July 16, “A Royal Joke”, has jostled my mind and my fingers. The lack of facilities for handicapped and wheelchair visitors to the attraction was heart-rending as we had to be lifting wheelchairs up and down stairs and pulling, or more dragging them, through the sand dunes.

As a country, we have committed US$7.4 million for the development of a cruise, shipping pier for the town of Port Royal and cannot find the funds to develop the facility, making it more visitor-friendly for persons who are wheelchairbound.

Another observation I made was a family (tourists) having to abandon their tour part-way as they were unable to push the baby strollers through the sand dunes to visit the Giddy House and the massive cannon and its turrets.

The real joy for the brethren and me was the fact that the wards and caregivers, from all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed themselves and really appreciated our efforts.

Kudos to our guide! She did a fantastic job in recalling and relating the story of this historically and culturally rich city.

The National Heritage Trust has a gold mine in these treasure troves, which need carefully planned development that will not alter the character of the carats.

We can do it, we should do it, and we must do it.

AINSLEY EDWARDS