Hotelier slams gov't on crime
Published:Thursday | May 13, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The wave of crime and violence in Jamaica did not go unnoticed at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Assoc-iation's (JHTA) 49th staging of Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), as president Wayne Cummings chastised the Govern-ment for its approach to tackling crime.
"While Jamaica has had major challenges with crime and violence through its independent history, the last 30 years have provided the most prolific example of what not to do when the State unofficially provides support for criminal enterprise for political gains," Cummings said in his address on Tuesday.
He argued that what is playing out currently is the worst form of extortion, drug running, scamming and other manifestations which are due to the strong base of legitimacy that the criminals have secured during these last generations.
"Sadly, we are now faced with independently powerful camps that are exacting dominance and jungle justice as a show of force to protect their ill-gotten gains," added Cummings, who stressed that the continued growth of the sector and other legal productive ventures are at real risk.
There have been close to 600 murders in Jamaica since the start of the year.
Customer Satisfaction
Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett acknowledged that the social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have empowered travellers to communicate what Jamaica's tourism product has to offer.
He said that, in a bid to keep tourists interested in Jamaica and visiting the island, "we have to look at ways to keep the product fresh and crisp all the time".
He added: "Customer satisfaction is very important as they are tweeting."
Despite the challenges, Bartlett argued that Jamaica continues to display resilience and credited the JHTA for helping to maintain social and economic stability during this period of recession.
"We have to look at how we are going to remain competitive now that more countries are involved in the commercialisation of tourism. Airlift is important in order to remain a destination that is accessible and partnership with the airlines is the way of the future," he concluded.