Canadian investors to visit East Portland – Bartlett
TOURISM MINISTER Edmund Bartlett on Sunday told Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters at a meeting in Portland that tourism interests and industry players will see a significant improvement in tourist arrivals.
Bartlett, who was addressing a capacity crowd at the Port Antonio Square during the official installation of Ann-Marie Vaz as the JLP standard-bearer for East Portland, said the candidate has been advocating for a tourism revival in Port Antonio, which is the cradle of Jamaica’s tourism.
“I am now focusing on the completion of the artisan village in Port Antonio. This will transform the lives of craft vendors and others who depend on tourism for a living. Under instructions from Mrs Vaz, I was sent by her to Toronto in Canada, where I met with some investors over the weekend. I am happy to report that those investors will be visiting East Portland in another couple of weeks, with an intention to invest. Additionally, I have issued instructions to the Tourism Product Development Company to commence with the design of Winnifred Beach, where the roads have been rehabilitated, upon a request from her (Mrs Vaz).”
According to Bartlett, Winnifred Beach will be giving a facelift, where adequate bathroom facilities will be put in place along with stalls and a recreational area. He added that as part of the prosperity plan, which will see a revival in tourism for East Portland, he will be holding talks with the owners of the various cruise lines to see how best cruise vessels can make a return to the Ken Wright shipping pier in Port Antonio.
“As part of the tourism revival, nine ships are slated for Port Antonio over the next five months, which is the most in recent years,” Bartlett further said.