THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM a Jamaican national who lives in North America and who constantly longs for my homeland, am proud of Jamaica and promote Jamaica at every opportunity.
I visit Jamaica as often as possible and always savour every moment of it. One of my favourite places is Blue Lagoon in Portland. This place is just past beautiful; it is a place of inspiration; it is spiritually uplifting.
On my last visit to the Blue Lagoon earlier this year, I had with me white North American friends and we visited the Blue Lagoon on three occasions over a five-day period. This is what I experienced and you my fellow Jamaicans be the judge.
1. My foreign visitors and I were "welcomed" to Blue Lagoon by a partially dressed (no shirt, no shoes and cut off shorts hung low - much of his backside was showing) red-eyed man and offered all kinds of wares we had no interest in while he and his "accomplices" tried to discourage us from entering the restaurant at the water's edge.
2. Loud and boisterous behaviour was the order of the day on all occasions that I encountered or passed the 'gauntlet' leading to the Lagoon.
3. At the end of the day (after 5:30) a bonfire was lit with all the day's left-over as fuel. On one occasion I saw one of the accomplices put five large plastic containers into a bonfire environmentalists, please note.
4. Foul four-letter words and general cursing and quarrelling were the order of the day on all three days I hung out at the area before entering the restaurant.
5. I asked myself constantly, what really was being sold here: trinkets, boat rides or what?
Now I have some questions and comments to offer:
1. Where is the government in all of this? Blue Lagoon is a natural treasure. Where is the Tourist Board, Tourism Product Development Company, Ministry of Tourism, N.E.P.A., the Police and whoever else?
2. Where are the rich and powerful residents of Blue Lagoon? Are they oblivious to the blight that these persons represent or do they just look the other way and hope that they will go away? Are they just afraid of this unruly element and think the government should deal with them?
3. Who owns the beach immediately beside the restaurant? Is this owner awake, alive? Is this owner the government or a private person?
4. The Restaurant at Blue Lagoon is fighting an uphill battle as the main attraction at the Blue Lagoon and their food is tasty, well presented and the portions and prices are reasonable. So what's the question, what's the point? This is it: Who gave them (The restaurant) permission to put a rope across the entrance to the Lagoon?
Too many things in 'Jamaica Land We Love' have been allowed to just slip, slide, decay and then fall from our list of great attractions because of inaction, fear, laziness, snobbery, stupidity, etc. Blue Lagoon is headed that way.
The stakeholders, Tourist Board, TPDCo., Ministry of Tourism, N.E.P.A., the Police etc., (including the half naked "welcome to Blue Lagoon" man and his accomplices) should get together as soon as possible and not just stop the slide but make Blue Lagoon the best it can be. With a little guts and vision the results could be spectacular.
Over to you, Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
PHILLIP JAMES
Toronto, Canada
