Why no upgrade of Clarendon beaches, Mr Bartlett?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ON JANUARY 23, 2015, The Gleaner carried a story captioned ‘Smooth sailing for beach upgrade programme’. Wykeham McNeill, the then minister of tourism, announced the initiative, during the Sectoral Debate, of at least one beach in every parish being “transformed to make quality recreational spaces available to the public, visitors and residents alike”.

This initiative, we were told, was in “collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)”.

We in south Clarendon were elated about this initiative and we were sure that Jackson Bay Beach, located in Portland Cottage, would have been the beach in this parish to be upgraded.

It’s simple: Jackson Bay Beach is the only unspoiled white-sand beach in Clarendon that is more than two miles long. Nothing has been done to tame nature’s rolling of the sea. The beach has withstood the battering of several storms, and still maintains its pristine beauty. This beach is a quiet hideaway, away from the daily din one might experience on other beaches. This is where families go daily to relax and cook, among other things.

Since the initiative was announced by Mr McNeill in 2015, we have heard of several beaches across Jamaica being upgraded and renovated. Recently, the present tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, made several announcements of the upgrade of other beaches across Jamaica, but nothing has been mentioned about Clarendon. How come?!

I want to know from Minister Bartlett or his surrogates if there are plans to upgrade the Jackson Bay Beach, or any beaches in Clarendon. We, the residents of Clarendon, also pay taxes.

AUTHNEL S. REID reidaut@icloud.com