Janice Allen blames ‘rundown state of tourist towns’ on Gov’t failures

In asserting that Jamaica's tourist resorts are now marked by rundown infrastructure such as broken sidewalks and dirty streets, Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages, Senator Janice Allen, says the Government has failed to invest in the country's tourism towns.

She has promised that a future People’s National Party (PNP) administration will address the ‘problem’.

Allen made the comments on Friday during her contribution to the 2024/25 State of the Nation Debate in the Senate.

“There has to be real investment in what is supposed to be our tourist towns - Ocho Rios, Negril, Port Antonio, Montego Bay. The reason the PNP administration of 2004 designed and implemented the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) was to reinvest the earnings of tourism into our towns and communities so that the people can see and feel the impact of tourism. It was also to ensure there is sustainable development of tourism by the investment in new products, so that more Jamaicans can benefit from the industry,” Allen stated.

“That is what I said in 2023. To date, I have not seen any real investment of TEF funds in Montego Bay, for example, other than the (welcome) sign at the airport,” she added.

“There has been no new attraction created, no investment in the craft markets, no work done on the cruise ship port —nothing!

“For there to be real rewards and benefits from tourism, we must resist the urge for disjointed projects such as a few signs here and a few corridors there. We must now design a truly comprehensive restoration of all our tourist towns. Montego Bay does not look like the centre of tourism, nor does it feel like it,” Allen remarked.

She charged that Montego Bay is littered with broken sidewalks, the streets are dirty, and chaos reigns.

“And there is still no functioning public hospital that the people can rely on for care,” she added.

According to the Opposition senator, Jimmy Cliff Boulevard (the Hip Strip) “has not carried the weight befitting of our icon Jimmy Cliff, who hails from Somerton in St James. This so-called Hip Strip is in a bad state, and the promises made in the past nine years by this Government to revitalise it and make it attractive have not resulted in anything.

“Under the next PNP administration, our tourism development plan will make Jimmy Cliff Boulevard truly worthy of our icon’s name because right now it’s neither hip nor strip, I don’t know what it is,” said Allen

She told the Senate that, “We cannot afford to settle for half-measures or hollow promises when it comes to our tourism sector, a cornerstone of our economy and a source of national pride.

“Yet, the realities on the ground paint a troubling picture. Our tourist towns, once vibrant symbols of our potential, now stand in stark contrast to the glossy image this Government tries to project,” she continued.

Regarding Negril, which she noted is renowned globally for its iconic seven miles of pristine beaches and as a haven for tourists, Allen cited that the locals grapple daily with persistent water shortages, a glaring contradiction in a town that thrives on offering a world-class experience.

“In Lucea, traffic congestion turns what should be a gateway to Jamaica’s beauty into a frustrating bottleneck, emblematic of the inefficiency stifling growth.

“Across the island, crumbling road networks leave drivers losing tyres, front-end parts and patience, starkly highlighting the unmet promises of prosperity – ‘the SPARK naa spark!,” Allen declared.

She said Ocho Rios, which was once the jewel of the north coast, has been dulled by poor planning, overcrowding and inadequate facilities, while Portland, with its breath-taking natural beauty, remains overshadowed by chronic neglect and underinvestment.

“For nearly a decade, this Administration has talked about development, yet our infrastructure is miles behind where it needs to be. Promises have become nothing more than political pageantry—words without action, talk without results.

“Meanwhile, our people suffer; our towns decay, and the opportunities we could be creating for our citizens are left unrealised.

“These towns—these gems of Jamaica—deserve so much more than the neglect they’ve endured. It is time to move beyond token gestures and platitudes and take bold, sustainable action,” said Allen.

She promised that, “When the PNP forms the next government, we will not settle for piecemeal efforts; we will prioritise the full revitalisation of our tourist towns. These towns will be clean, orderly and equipped with the infrastructure, services and opportunities that both locals and visitors rightly deserve. Let me make it abundantly clear: we will fix it.”

Allen said a PNP administration will set aside a dedicated amount from the TEF to kick-start the revitalisation of the major tourist towns.

“We will also focus on beach preservation and restoration and upgrading the capacity of water and sewerage infrastructure. In other words, we will be investing in public spaces to enhance the quality of life for Jamaicans and the visitor experience. The People’s National Party has always led the way.

It was under our leadership that the programme to revitalise our beaches began. We repaired roads to attractions, strengthened community infrastructure for our workers, and sought to uplift every corner of our society.

“And when we return to Government, we will pick up where we left off—finishing what we started with a renewed sense of purpose and urgency. We will fix it,” she concluded.