Plans too for Lucea

Both the Hanover parish capital, Lucea, and the popular resort of Negril in Westmoreland are being earmarked for major development to enhance them as tourist towns.

With key hotel developments currently under way east and west of Lucea, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says much is in store that will make this area rival other existing resorts.

Construction is under way on the 950-room expansion of Grand Palladium Resorts as well as the new 2,000-room Princess Jamaica Resort. Also, work is expected to commence shortly on construction of the Viva Wyndham Resort in Hanover.

TO MAKE SECTORAL DEBATE PRESENTATION ON APRIL 18

Further details on these developments will be known when Bartlett makes his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on April 18.

In the meantime, he has also signalled that one of Lucea’s historical treasures, Fort Charlotte, is to receive attention and play an important role in marine life in the west.

Last Thursday (March 23), Bartlett, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith, Senior Advisor and Strategist Delano Seiveright and other senior personnel from the ministry, toured the two hotels and the old fort from which an aged canon seemingly stands guard over the town.

The two-day tour of tourism entities and attractions in Hanover and Westmoreland is part of an islandwide destination assurance drive to ensure that Jamaica delivers on its brand promise to visitors, which assures an authentic, safe, and seamless experience that is respectful towards the community and the environment.

Bartlett echoed announcements made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in his contribution to the Budget Debate, noting that “Negril is one of our premier tourist destinations and in need of a major injection of resource support to realise its full potential. Within the upcoming fiscal year, the Government will present a comprehensive development plan which will include an international airport, a public beach park, a craft village and, with the help of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a restored Royal Palm Reserve”.

As a fast-growing town, Negril is without any major commercial, industrial or civic complexes and, said the tourism minister, “the prime minister has tasked the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) with developing an urban centre for the resort town like that of Morant Bay”.

He added: “Land strategically located in the centre of the town has been identified and consultations started with the relevant stakeholders regarding its use. Soon Negril will be the jewel of Jamaica and the Caribbean.”

Additional infrastructure developments that will benefit Negril tremendously are the recently announced bypass road arrangements from Hopewell and Lucea, which will ease traffic congestion and make for faster travel time, as well as significant upgrades to the water and sewage systems. These major projects will start this financial year.