Port Antonio was once described by the late Hollywood legend Errol Flynn as 'Jamaica's best-kept secret'.

Flynn, who bought the perfect hideaway in the form of Navy Island, was so in love with the town that he reportedly used to bring his movie star friends over for weekend getaways, making Port Antonio the envy of the other resort areas.

That now seems like a very long time ago.

Port Antonio, while it has not lost any of its natural beauty, is a far cry from its glory days and far removed from the status as Jamaica's number one tourist destination. Bad roads leading to and from the main attractions, poor infrastructure and incredibly high levels of unemployment have now made Port Antonio a place where residents see very little hope for social mobility and in the words of one high school student, "a place where you try to get out as fast as you can."

"There is nothing to do here in Port Antonio, especially for a youngster leaving school and seeking employment," explained Winston McCarthy, a Norwich businessman. "There was a time when the popular places of employment would either be the banks or the library. What you find now is that those places can't take any more people and so many of our young people are left to idle on the streets."

Raymond Dunn, another resident agreed. "There's not even a vibrant tourism industry here for people to find work. "Most of the hotels are closed and not one of the attractions, those that are still open, are hiring. Take a place like Navy Island, once the finest getaway spot in the town. It was bought by the Port Authority and then that was that. People were just told that it will be closed for refurbishing and now they are all out of work. how do you explain something like this?"

First-class attraction

Navy Island, Flynn's former paradise, has been closed for several years. The Port Authority now owns the facility and was reportedly flirting with the idea of making it a casino resort akin to Paradise Islands in The Bahamas. The agency, however, has steadfastly denied the rumours, saying the idea is to turn Navy Island into a first-class tourism attraction.

Residents, though, are breathlessly awaiting a return to the glory days. "We were once the cradle of Jamaica's tourism and I don't see why we cannot make a comeback," said Sandra Thompson, resident. "All the other resort towns are fully commercialised and the only place left is Port Antonio. It is my belief that it is only a matter of time for us."

- G.D.