Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
Patrons feast on delectable delights during the annual Boston Jerk Festival held near Port Antonio, St. Mary. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
ON A day when cruise vessel Silver Whisper docked at the Ken Wright Shipping Pier in Port Antonio, most business operators closed their doors in celebrating New Year's day - leaving many tourists to walk the streets.
The Silver Whisper, which docked at about 7:45 a.m. Monday, carrying a little over 650 passengers, is just one of the many cruise ships contracted out of Europe that will be making frequent calls to the resort town this winter tourist season.
But with the closure of close to 90 per cent of the business establishments throughout the parish due to the festive season, tourists made little or no purchase on souvenir items. With the exception of four booths occupied by craft vendors, Port Antonio resembled a ghost town.
Verenez Macratin, a tourist from Denmark, told The Gleaner that the local people were friendly, but outside of that he wanted to purchase Reggae CDs and a variety of liquor, which he was unable to do due to the shutdown of stores. He wanted to take back Jamaican liquor to friends and family back home.
However, the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA) bus operators enjoyed their best day yet for the season, as every JUTA carriage was chartered by tourists.
Meanwhile, only four of the more than 10 attraction sites are operational. These include Summerset Falls, Rio Grande Rafting, The Folly Ruins and Boston Jerk Centre. The notably closed attraction sites are Non-such Caves, Dragon Bay, Reach Falls, The Blue Lagoon, Winnifred Beach and Navy Island, home to the former Hollywood Legend, Errol Flynn, which has fallen into disrepair.
The police were dispatched all over to ensure the safety of tourists, and preserve the reputation of the parish which continues to be the safest parish islandwide.
