By Garwin Davis,
Staff Reporter
FOR THE craft-vending situation in Ocho Rios to become viable, the growing number of craft markets in the resort town has to be reduced to one centralised location, industry players feel.
Currently, there are eight craft markets scattered throughout Ocho Rios which, according to tourism and cruise interests, were just too many and were becoming a major turnoff.
In a meeting last week between a number of business interests in the resort town, the problem with craft vending was a major topic of discussion with all the participants noting that it had to be addressed. It was felt that all the craft traders were selling the same thing and were aggressive in their approach towards visitors.
"Even if they wanted to, visitors could not find the time to go to so many craft shops," one business owner noted.
The cruise lines, too have in the past expressed their concerns over the number of craft markets in the town and the treatment that have been meted out to their passengers.
In an earlier interview, vice-president of Princess Cruises, Stephen Nielson said that the situation was just too much for his passengers and needed to remedied.
"Somebody probably needs to bite the bullet and address the craft situation once and for all," he said.
"How many craft markets do you think a visitor can go to while in port? Once you go to the one at Dunn's River, there is really no need to visit another," he added.
Mr. Nielson's comments were in line with several of his cruise shipping colleagues who have been clamoring for one centralised market, in close proximity to the pier, which would house all the vendors in the resort town.
This, cruise officials feel, would not only eliminate the competition among the eight craft markets that are presently scattered throughout the town but would make vendors and their wares more marketable.
As another official noted, "one craft market, I believe, would not only be easier to manage but would reduce problems such as visitor harassment."
The fact that there is a Dunn's River craft market and which, because of its location, doesn't have a problem attracting visitors, is also seen as a deterrent to business in the other craft markets.
"Dunn's River Falls craft market is killing us," explained Anthony Hardware, a craft vendor in Ocho Rios. "There has to be one craft park that will house all the vendors. Without that, there will always be problems. Dunn's River, because most passengers go there will always get most of the business."
Former Tourism Minister, Francis Tulloch, has long advocated the position that the Dunn's River situation was really hurting the other markets.
"It doesn't matter how many ships come into port there will always be problems," he has told authorities in the past.
"As long as there is a Dunn's River craft market it doesn't matter if you have a million tourists passing through town everyday, the other markets will continue to suffer."
But Dunn's River craft traders have made it known to the authorities that not only are they not interested in a centrally located market but would also not be moving from their present location.
As one vendor openly expressed, "blood will have to run to get us out of here. We have no intention of going anywhere and anybody who believe he can move us would better be advised to leave us alone."
President of the All-Island Craft Market Association, Mildred McCalla, said that vendors continue to struggle from slow business and are in need of help. "We have done everything we can with the hope of getting some business but nothing seems to be working," she said. "We are seeing very little business from the cruise ships."
The Ocho Rios craft traders, with the exception of Dunn's River vendors, have mounted several demonstrations in the past to protest against what they perceived as unfair trading practices of other merchants.
The demonstrations, because of the negative impact on the Tourism Industry, got very quick responses from the government that not only promised to assist vendors in the area of marketing but also said that they would be building a state of the art craft market to accommodate all the traders. But for vendors, that idea has appeared to have been shelved.
"All we have gotten are empty promises," Mr. McCalla said.
