Tourism exec welcomes PM’s plans for repairs to ‘Ochi’ cruise terminal

Chief Strategist and Adviser in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, has welcomed the comprehensive plans that have been announced by Prime Minster Andrew Holness for the rehabilitation of Berth 2 at the Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Terminal in St Ann.

The facility suffered significant damage during a severe weather event in February 2024.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the prime minister emphasised the importance of the cruise industry as a critical driver of Jamaica's economic growth, and noted that the island welcomed over 1.3 million cruise passengers last year.

The US$20 million restoration project, approved by Cabinet, includes repairs to the damaged berthing infrastructure and the development of engineering designs for a new pier that will be capable of accommodating the cruise industry's largest vessels.

"We welcome the prime minister's announcement in Parliament as it relates to decisive and clear timeliness for emergency repairs to Berth 2 at the Ocho Rios Cruise Terminal. The berth was damaged significantly during a freak weather event of 2024," said Seiveright.

"The closure of the Ocho Rios Cruise Terminal has really had a negative impact in the economies of Ocho Rios and the wider St Ann parish, and (also) St Mary, and have ricocheted throughout the economy to an extent," he added.

 Seiveright bemoaned that the closure of the pier negatively impacted the livelihood of thousands of tourism stakeholders.

He listed craft vendors in particular; taxi operators, other ground transportation operators; attractions, and other tourism stakeholders, among the most severely affected persons and enterprises.

"Nonetheless, we commend the Port Authority of Jamaica, the prime minister's office and the team for their swift and strategic action in redirecting cruise vessels to the Reynolds Pier, and also others to Falmouth and Montego Bay.  So in the main, we did not lose on cruise calls," Seiveright said.

"As a matter of fact, last year was a good year, we had about 1.3 million cruise arrivals, but as it relates to the local economies in and around St Ann, St Mary and so on, there has been a negative impact and some persons have been suffering.

"So to know that the full repairs of the berth will be completed by the end of the summer is very, very good news and we expect robust growth eafter the repairs are completed," Seiveright added.