Susan Smith, Staff Reporter 
Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Ndombet Assamba, admires some of the craft on dispaly at the launch of the Portland showcase last Wednesday.
HAVING ACHIEVED the 'Green Globe Certification' benchmark status, Portland is officially being marketed as the primary eco-tourism destination
of Jamaica.
To this end, the Environmental Audits for Sustainable Tourism (EAST), a project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted an exhibition called 'Portland Showcase', on Wednesday March 29, at the Portland Marina to showcase Portland as the green destination for local and foreign visitors.
"We want to reposition Portland as a primary tourism destination," said the Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson.
GREATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Green Globe 21 certification is expected to foster greater economic development for the parish. It is a programme known worldwide for its performance standard for hotel and tourism businesses.
Deputy Mission Director of the USAID for Jamaica and the Caribbean, Dr. Kevin A. Rushing, said it should be leverage to strengthen the capacity for tourism product improvement and development. He is also anticipating increased opportunities for remunerative employment for the parish.
"The resources of the parish must be aggressively marketed," he added.
However, Dr. Robertson said although there are many public and private sector developments slated for the parish, the Government has not advertised the destination more because there is much more work to be done. He made reference to a J$90 million allocation to deal with the water sewage and draining problems facing Portland as an example of the work to be done.
MANAGING THE
NATURAL RESOURCES
"In our view, plans for this parish should include engaging in partnership aimed at managing the natural resources of the parish, guarding against economic
marginalisation, and creating and expanding a tourism product that make Portland unique," outlined Dr. Rushing.
Cognisant that eco-tourism must thrive on a green and safe environment, interest groups are rallying to ensure that members of the communities and visitors establish safe and sound environmental practices to achieve this sustainable development.
"For Portland to be developed as an eco-tourism destination we need to ensure that businesses operate in an environmentally friendly manner," said Chief Executive Officer for the
Portland Environment Protection Association, Machel Donegan.
