Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
OFFICIALS AT the 135-room Montego Beach Resort are now in a state of panic ahead of the official start of the winter tourist season, as rising tidal surges threaten to destroy more than 40 rooms at the facility.
Louis Campbell, financial director at the hotel, told The Gleaner on Thursday that last Sunday, tidal surges had risen to alarming levels, threatening to reclaim four rooms on a block which houses 44 rooms.
"There are four rooms which are directly under threat right now, but they are on a block which has 40 other rooms. If these four rooms are not repaired, operations of the entire block could be affected," he said.
SUPPORT STRUCTURES UNDER STRESS
According to Campbell, there are signs that the rooms' support structures are under stress from the rising tide. The effects of the changing tidal patterns were seen from as early as September when the popular Sunset Beach, which runs adjacent the hotel property was destroyed by tidal surges associated with Hurricane Ivan. Waves lashed the coastline, moving tons of sand onto the roadway.
"We have to act now because we can see the signs that support structures are broken. If we delay we might be in for a disaster," said Mr. Campbell.
UNDERGOING RENOVATION
The Montego Beach Resort is now undergoing a J$100 million renovation, ahead of the winter tourist season which gets underway December 15. The hotel is owned by Hescove Investments Limited, which purchased it in August and is expecting a December 15 opening.
As part of its move to take corrective measures to save the rooms, Mr. Campbell contacted officials of the National Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA), to gain approval to effect repairs to the facility.
"NEPA has been very accommodating. We want to be in conformity with their regulations, and to get their seal of approval before we begin to repair the structure," he said.
When The Gleaner visited the property Thursday, signs of earth movement were evident. Several sections of a sea wall separating the hotel property from Sunset Beach had large cracks and the earth had moved approximately two to three inches away from the threatened rooms.
