Hoteliers back western SOE
A MERE two weeks after the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) said it would not welcome a return of the state of emergency (SOE) in St James, the lobby took an about-turn in response to the declaration of a state of emergency across three western parishes yesterday.
Emergency powers have been activated in the geographic arc of St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.
In a statement released to the media on Tuesday afternoon, the tourism group said that it fully understood that the action had been precipitated by a 70 per cent surge in murders in St James since the yearlong security measure ended on January 31.
Admitting that while its membership would have preferred to have avoided the negative publicity that may accompany the security clampdown, the JHTA said it fully supported the Government’s efforts to stem the haemorrhage.
However, the organisation was quick to warn that this new measure must not be squandered.
“Since the Government has once more taken this extraordinary measure, on behalf of the tourism sector, and we are sure the entire country, we strongly recommend that this measure be utilised to its fullest capacity to once and for all rid the country of this crime menace.”
The JHTA has called on both the Government and the Opposition to put aside all tribal politics and work towards a common goal.
The decision has been welcomed by hoteliers in the town renowned as the Capital of Casual, Negril, where stakeholders have been calling for an SOE since 2016 as a result of the massive increase in murders.
Negril and Savanna-la-Mar, the capital of Westmoreland, have seen a high incidence of murders and other serious crimes.
“We have been very concerned about the levels of crime for the last three years and have been asking for some type of response from the Government,” JHTA area chapter chair for Negril Kevin Levee stated.
In the meantime, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says he does not expect any major fallout as a consequence of the return to the SOE.
According to the minister, he has been working the phones soliciting assessments from market players as soon as the announcement was made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a Jamaica House press conference yesterday.
“Any country that has to impose any heightened security arrangement will always cause an impact in the market. I think, however, that Jamaica as a destination over the years has been recognised for its safety, security, and seamlessness.
“And so we have to position this act as being a deliberate proactive measure to secure and maintain that high record of security and safety,” Bartlett stated.
The tourism minister emphasised that less than one per cent of all crimes committed targeted visitors.