CARICOM Heads criticised

By Janet Silvera, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

MEMBERS OF the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) have criticised CARICOM Heads of Government for taking 11 years to hold a Tourism Summit, focusing on the industry that has become the life-blood of the region.

The US$16 billion tourism industry, the primary engine driving economic growth and the Caricom Heads of Government came under keen scrutiny at this week's Caribbean Media Exchange conference (CMEx) on Sustainable Tourism at the Beaches Grande Sport Resort, Ocho Rios.

Investors and managers in the tourism sector did not mince words in their criticisms of the governments of the region.

According to head of Sandals Resorts chain Gordon "Butch' Stewart, 99 per cent of the governments in the Caribbean know nothing about tourism.

Speaking on the topic, "The Caribbean's Future" he said: "Banana is in trouble, sugar has been in trouble for years and more and more people are realising that the these crystal waters and white sand beaches are our greatest assets, yet it took our governments 11 years to call a tourism summit to discuss the most important industry," he said.

Ironically, the first Tourism Heads of Government Summit was held by Jamaica's former Prime Minister Michael Manley 11 years ago in the Bahamas. Since that time CARICOM leaders have met to discuss matters relating to agriculture, taxation, among other things, with tourism most times at the bottom of the agenda.

Berthia Parle, fourth Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel Association endorsed Mr. Stewart's sentiments. She said it was a disgrace that the leaders had chosen to cancel the important Tourism Summit between the tourism industry and the CARICOM Heads that was slated for the Bahamas later this month.

"Prior to the terrorists attacks in the United States, CARICOM Governments and we in the tourism industry had agreed to meet in Nassau, Bahamas, the intention was to focus on the critical issues facing Caribbean Tourism, today as you can appreciate these issues loom even larger," she said.

And although, CHA President Ralph Taylor has lead a group of six executives to the "911" meeting that was called for October 8-9 in Nassau Bahamas, Mrs. Parle, says that as far as she knows the CARICOM leaders token invitation to six members of CHA to speak for an hour at the most, at this important meeting was an insult.

"They are trying to keep the private sector out."

She said they (governments) continue to implement policies without the input of the people who know about the industry.

At the end of the four-day intensive workshop, the over 40 media representatives from the region, travel and tourism experts left the meeting with a better understanding of both the role of the media and the societies on maintaining tourism in the region.

In looking at the specifics of the industry, participants stressed the need to examine some serious constraints to competitiveness for the industry, which included, the need for governments to give practical recognition to the industry as an export industry, as important as any traditional commodity trade.

CMEx was the brainchild of the Washington-based Counter-parts International, the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, the Caribbean Hotel Association, Air Jamaica and Great Places of the Caribbean.

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