Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Craft vendors in Port Antonio, Portland, have criticised the deplorable state of the resort town and its environs, which welcomed its first cruise vessel on Wednesday, since the December 15 start of the winter tourist season.

The craft vendors lashed out at the disgraceful state of the Neville Antonio park, where they display artefacts and other craft items during cruise ship arrivals. The park is also home to a local band, which provides live entertainment to tourists. A spokesperson for the craft vendors, who gave her name as Cathline Swaby, said the vendors were forced to display their wares in muddy and sloppy conditions, compounded by leaky stalls.

"There was a lot of garbage lying around in the park, including used condoms, plastic bottles, food boxes, and scandal bags," she said. "Had it not been for the Mayor (Port Antonio Mayor Benny White), passengers from the cruise ship would have encountered the filth and waste at our resort town."

Mayor White told The Gleaner, on Wednesday, that he was forced to carry out a major clean-up in the park yesterday morning, after a team from the National Solid Waste Management Authority assigned to remove waste from the park failed to show at 5:00 a.m.

"I arrived at the park round about 5:00 a.m Wednesday and, troubled by what I saw, I started to remove the waste, ably assisted by an employee from the Portland Parish Council, Moshe Simpson," he said. "There is no way I could stand by and allow that filth and waste to see sunlight."