MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, March 27, 2023: [As a resident of Negril over a period of 10 years, I have seen the private sector advocate and compete to build a hospital that would be subsidized to accommodate residents and visitors alike. This dream has not yet materialized, instead we have accepted privitized medical care in Negril, Jamaica's most complete resort. Those without medical coverage would be shuttled to overcrowded hospitals which sometimes have no space for the sick and dying. What is Jamaica's Health Ministry going to do about this as Jamaica continues towards its goal of Vision 2030 (Jamaica will become a place to live, do business and raise families.) as it races towards becoming a First World Caribbean nation. The following question begs for an in-depth response: How can a "first world" Caribbean nation not afford to care for its people, the most valuable commodity, in modern, affordable-care hospitals or urgent-care facilities?
In regard to Lucea, Hanover becoming a resort, does a Bypass, alone prepare this bypassed parish for the glory that it could become as a Thriving Marina with an active Town Centre, Tours and Reinactments at Fort Charlotte? Why has it taken so long Honourable Edmund Bartlett and Prime Minister Holeness? ]
Caribnewsroom commentary
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Both the Hanover parish capital, Lucea, and the popular resort of Negril are being earmarked for major development to enhance them as tourist towns.
With key hotel developments currently underway east and west of Lucea, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says much is in store that will make this area rival other existing resorts.
Construction is underway on the 950-room expansion of Grand Palladium Resorts as well as the new 2000-room Princess Jamaica Resort. Also, work is expected to commence shortly on construction of the Viva Wyndham Resort in Hanover.
Further details on these developments will be known when Minister Bartlett makes his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament on April 18. Meanwhile, 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.
On Thursday (March 23), Minister 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 island wide 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.
Minister Bartlett echoed announcements made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in his budget presentation, noting that “Negril is one of our premier tourist destinations and in need of a major injection of resource support to realize 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 “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. 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,” added the tourism minister.
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.
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Photo Caption:
(HM Princess) Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) is given a tour of the construction site of the new 2000-room Princess Resort Jamaica by Chairman and owner of Princess Hotels and Resorts, Robert Cabrera.
(HM Omega) Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett was impressed with what he saw on a tour of the Omega Medical Hospital (OMH) in Negril on Friday (March 24) and suggested that one of its kind should be in every resort. The multi-million hospital was opened recently in the western resort town offering cutting-edge technology in a range of medical services. Founder of OMH, Dr. Dale Foster (left) shows off one of the hospital’s most technologically outfitted patient beds to (2nd L-R) Minister Bartlett; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Jennifer Griffith; Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr. Carey Wallace and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Dalton James. The owners are eyeing playing a pivotal role in heath tourism.
For more information, contact:
Corporate Communications Division
Ministry of Tourism
64 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5
Tel: (876) 920-4926-30
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Omega Princess
2. Omega Hospital, Negril
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