Westmoreland’s resort town too big to be ignored, says Seiveright
Published:Saturday | July 19, 2025 | 12:06 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
At a time when infrastructure gaps are threatening the growth of Jamaica’s premier resort towns, Senator Delano Seiveright, the state minister in the Ministry of Tourism, says Negril in Westmoreland should not be ignored.
According to Seiveright, who was addressing a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the unveiling of the $42.3-million road rehabilitation project, which was carried out in Negril by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the resort town has been making a phenomenal impact on the nation’s economy.
“I have absolute respect for the Negril community and their activism and their involvement,” said Seiveright, who noted that local pressure factored into the rehabilitation of a one-kilometre stretch of roadway along West End Road.
“The level of public advocacy is amazing … because this small community here in the west has an outsized impact on our country. This small community contributes nearly a third of the US$4.3 billion in earnings from tourism,” said Seiveright, who further noted that major public investments in roadways and water infrastructure were prompted by local pressure.
Seiveright also confirmed that the Western Parishes Water Supply and Resilience Improvement Programme (WPWSRIP), which was first announced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, is now in motion, noting that the project will cost a staggering $67.9 billion, making it the largest water-related public investment in Jamaican history.
“That project is due to the public advocacy of the Negril business community and Negril stakeholders,” said Seiveright, who declared the project to be larger than the SPARK programme.
18 PER CENT INCREASE IN SUPPLY
Seiveright said the plan would add 35 million gallons of water to the national supply, an 18 per cent increase. He said it was being built with climate resilience in mind.
“So, [with regard to] the issues of drought that impact this side of the island, the water improvement project is being done at a scale that it can withstand the usual negative effects of the standard droughts.”
The junior tourism minister also stated that transportation issues are also part of the Government’s plan for Negril, pointing to a planned bypass road that is to be constructed to address the bottleneck in Hopewell and Lucea in Hanover.
“This development is absolutely critical; there’s a need for improved road infrastructure. It will cut the travel time from Montego Bay [in St James] to Negril significantly,” he said.
Speaking with The Gleaner about the West End Road upgrade, Lenbert Williams, founder of the Make Negril Awesome Movement, described the project as “brilliant” and “long overdue”.
“We believe that Hog Heaven is going to be to Negril what Jimmy Cliff Boulevard is to Montego Bay,” said Williams. “I can just see some megastructures being built down here that are going to employ thousands of people.”
Richard Wallace, former president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and managing director of Boardwalk Village, expressed delight over planned investments for Negril.
“This is an upgrade project for the community, where Jamaicans and tourists alike will benefit,” said Wallace. “Investing in that area is critical to allow the growth of the small tourism sector, and that is what I am mostly pleased about.”