Desmond HenryTREASURE BEACH:
MY FRIEND, colleague and eco-defender Peter Espeut wrote a tantalising piece last week Wednesday on the prospects of South Coast tourism. He told of a promise that is almost imminent and timely, and one that has the potential to change the face of tourism on Jamaica's entire South Coast. But it cannot be business as usual. He referred particularly to the long overdue implementation of the previous South Coast study, and the kind of management systems that would have to be put in place to give best effect to the recommendations of that study.
The research was carried out by a British firm, Halcrow Ltd., almost three years ago and, unlike any other study of its kind, drew heavily from the non-technical inputs of citizens and individuals speaking from common sense and survival points of view. The result was that the study was replete with community participation in a way that transformed many people's material sense of importance.
It was a refreshingly new diversion and in many ways moved the centre of planning from Kingston to the communities involved. I know, because I was invited to help lead the overall strategy for eliciting community participation.
If anything now, I am somewhat disappointed in the length of time that has elapsed between the final report and the potential start-up of action.
The report has been quite specific: Community Tourism should lead the development thrust of the South Coast, with the Treasure Beach/Black River area as its centre. As Espeut stated, its emphasis should be on low-density application with a never-ending inter-change between visitors and hosts.
I've often told audiences along the coast that those who have never seen an elevator, don't wait to see one in a South Coast hotel. It will never happen. Out of these new relationships between sensible carrying capacities and eco-rhythms will emerge real life benefits such as bed and breakfasts, small villas, attractions, festivals, art and craft shops, geographic and demographic tours, and many other South Coastal tours. Not to mention an entirely new set of resource material for schools to study and appreciate. A new sense of environmental appreciation would be learnt and practiced.
For example, the Great Pedro Bluff must be one of Jamaica's greatest survival stories ever of flora and fauna versus the ravages of the sea. I don't believe there is another location in this island with vegetation as tough and as isolated as those on the Pedro Bluff. It is an environmentalist's dream. The possibility of resettling the threatened iguana population from the Hellshires to the area between the Bluff and Lover's Leap, is something that has been raised cursorily.
And speaking of Lover's Leap, I for one would love to see the implementation of cable car rides from the existing look-out balcony to a developed scenic beach park way down below. I believe it could add immeasurably to the attractiveness of Lover's Leap. Also the possibility of cottages on stilts above the great morass near Black River would be fascinating.
If both are environmentally compatible, I believe the South Coast should go for it. Peter's thoughts about the Monymusk, Milk River, Canoe Valley areas are well founded and technically sound.
Perhaps my greatest fear, however, has to do with how the recommendations of the study will be managed. As of now, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has administrative responsibility for managing and massaging the report, including the finalisation of discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) regarding final structure and funding. I have been privy to some of these discussions and have never hidden my feelings that what is needed is an entirely new South Coast developmental organisation much like the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
Fisheries
In fact, I have been arguing for a South Coast Development Corporation with the expressed purpose of giving dynamic to the report. To hear some supposedly responsible voices talk about using the existing Parish Councils or (get this) even the Resort Board, is enough to make me sick. No existing parish structure in any of the involved parishes could seriously begin to take on this far-reaching responsibility. None has either the administrative, technical, financial or persuasive competence to even attempt what's required. Here is a chance to set up a rural development structure as a model for the rest of rural Jamaica.
And as the study recommended simultaneous development of tourism, fisheries and urban Sav-la-mar, it is even more vital that a non-traditional management structure be contemplated. I and others are most anxious, indeed impatient, to see the commencement of this astounding opportunity.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
The art of prophecy is very difficult, especially when it comes to the future.
Desmond Henry is a marketing strategist based in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
