Durrant Pate/Contributor

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, has appointed Ryan Parkes as Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), effective tomorrow May 1, 2026.

He succeeds long-serving chairman Godfrey Dyer, who has held the position for more than 14 years. Parkes, who currently serves as Group Chief Executive Officer of Island Car Rentals and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme.

In making the announcement during the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held on April 22 at the AC Marriott Hotel, Minister Bartlett paid tribute to Dyer, who is the longest serving Chairman in the fund’s history. Dyer served in two separate periods—from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2025—overseeing the transformation of the TEF into a cornerstone of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure.

The process to identify Dyer’s successor was conducted in close consultation with him following his decision to step down. Parkes emerged as the preferred candidate with full endorsement from the outgoing chairman.

Laudable contribution to tourism

“I don’t believe there is anyone alive today who has contributed more to the development of Jamaica’s tourism than this gentleman,” Bartlett said, emphasising Parkes’ industry impact. As Parks prepares to take the helm, stakeholders across the tourism sector are expected to watch closely as he builds on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor. 

He brings extensive experience in the financial sector, having held senior executive roles at several leading institutions across Jamaica. In accepting the position, Parks acknowledged the weight of the responsibility ahead, saying, “These are very big shoes to fill, but with God’s help I will give it my best shot.” 

His tenure as Chairman of the TEF Board will run from May 1, 2026, to November 23, 2028, aligning with the current board’s term.

“With your wisdom, your sagacity, and the guidance that I know you bring, TEF is now a central part of the tourism delivery mechanism,” Bartlett said of Dyer, who is based in Jamaica’s tourist capital of Montego Bay, adding, “I thank you for your exceptional leadership throughout the years.”

An emotional Dyer expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, crediting the leadership within the Ministry of Tourism, including Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith. “Under the leadership of Minister Bartlett and the Permanent Secretary, it was just easy to serve,” Dyer commented.