THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RULING by the Supreme Court on May 16 revoking the environmental permit for the Bahia Principe Hotel in St. Ann has began a most interesting and important dialogue on the relationship between development, the environment and investment.
We need investments of this scale to propel economic growth and employment; however we must be sure that investments are of a sustainable nature, contributing to environmental preservation and also economic growth, something very difficult to balance.
It is very important to give investors, both foreign and local and a reasonably fast, streamlined, efficient process in making these investments come to fruition. But all processes whether they be in developing a product, developing a marriage or developing a hotel must pay value to speed, but quality must be the main objective.
Let's not prostitute Jamaica for short-term goals. Many have done this in the past; many continue to do this in their families and in their communities. We now need better vision, and a release from a persistent myopia.
I am, etc.,
MARK F. PIKE
xtraboy2001@hotmail.com
Countrystyle Community
Tourism Network
62 Ward Avenue,
Mandeville
