The Editor, Sir:

In the last three months there has been a lot of discussion in tourism circles concerning the inability of the cruise ship sector to absorb the number of ships which want to call on our ports in Jamaica.

It has been reported that the country has lost over US$200M due to insufficient berthing space for cruise ships in the island. Our Government has sat on the sidelines during this time, and has not come forward with any plans as to what needs to take place to ensure that this situation does not persist.

It appears to me that those with a vested interest in the cruise ships are short-sighted or just plain selfish which has allowed us to continue to lose valuable business. The players in the industry have been constantly clamouring for the Reynolds pier to be converted into a cruise ship pier. They have been pestering the Government to build additional piers either in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios.

I would have thought that rather than build new piers in either Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, we would look at developing/upgrading the Ken Wright Pier and the Boundbrook Wharf in Port Antonio. Why not develop the Bowden Wharf in St. Thomas to accommodate cruise ships?

This is where I think those in the sector who are lamenting the fact that we are losing valuable business should be looking. What would it take, how much money would it cost, to convert or upgrade these existing piers to accommodate these new, larger cruise ships? It has often been said that the channel between Port Antonio mainland and Navy Island is too shallow to accommodate larger cruise ships. If this is in fact the case, why not dredge the channel to correct this problem?

Is it that the powers that be, or those who have a vested interest in the cruise ship industry would rather have all the business in Ocho Rios or Montego Bay as that is where their businesses are domiciled? Are we seeing the self-interest of others being placed above the national interest? If this is in fact the case then the Government needs to step in and do something.

Why as a country do we fail to see the benefits of spreading wealth creation throughout the country so that more persons can participate and benefit from the tourism sector?

The development of the ports in the eastern section of the island will no doubt inject a tremendous amount of business in these areas and allow for greater participation of the Jamaican people.

Last year we lost (according to the experts, over US$200M). How much can we expect to lose this year and the next year?

I am, etc.,

JOHN WILLIAMS

patex_us2000@yahoo.com

BirdRock Ext

Basseterre, St. Kitts

Via Go-Jamaica