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Holness says Port Royal will be safe and hassle-free for tourists

Published:Thursday | January 9, 2020 | 1:01 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (third left) addressing a stakeholder meeting on the development of Port Royal at Jamaica House in St Andrew on January 8, 2020. Listening on (from left) are Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange; Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz; and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation – Contributed photo

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says anti-harassment initiatives and security measures will be implemented at Port Royal, Kingston to ensure a safe and hassle-free environment for tourists.

“We are not going to allow this new tourist destination to descend into chaos. We are not going to tolerate harassment and public disorder in this area and I am relying on the security forces to put in place the preventative measures so that it doesn’t occur,” he said.

Holness was speaking at a meeting with representatives from the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Urban Development Corporation, the security forces and other stakeholders regarding the development of Port Royal at Jamaica House in St Andrew on Wednesday.

A cruise port terminal is being developed at the historic town of Port Royal, creating a platform for a thriving cruise tourist destination.

The first vessel is slated to dock later this month.

Port Royal is one of the most fascinating locations in the entire Caribbean with well over 500 years of incredible history, full of the most interesting characters to have ever lived.

Holness said the preventative measures will allow for the protection of the country while ensuring continued growth and sustainability of the tourism sector as well as a safe and comfortable environment for visitors.

“Port Royal will not be a free-for-all. It is not going to be a place for hustlers and thugs and people to come to harass, it has to be a place of order. It will also be a place where not just visitors from overseas will have the opportunity to enjoy the experience, but we want Jamaicans to enjoy the experience as well,” Holness said.

“We are not creating an exclusive zone, we are creating an orderly zone and once there is order, all persons – Jamaicans and non-Jamaicans – will be able to enjoy Port Royal,” he added.

- JIS News 

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