PM lauds Treasure Beach residents for promoting tourism

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the people of Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, through their community consciousness, have made the area a major tourist destination.

"The growth of this community, the extent to which its name has gone abroad and has become such a unique attraction for visitors to Jamaica is partly due to the ownership that the people of Treasure Beach have taken, and how they protect it and make sure that it is not abused," Golding said.

The prime minister was speaking at the opening of the BREDS Treasure Beach Sports Park on Saturday.

Golding said the Government would continue to support this endeavour, as that kind of com-munity spirit should be growing and springing up in other com-munities of the island.

He said the facility that is geared towards sport tourism "has tremendous potential for continued development of the area, bringing benefit to the community and providing new adventure for so many people to benefit".

The prime minister, in lauding the BREDS Foundation, founded by businessman Jason Henzell, said while many times when investment enters an area, it dislocates the community and replaces what was there for the people's enjoyment and suste-nance of the community, Henzell has ensured that the natural environment is developed for the residents.

"What has happened in Treasure Beach is truly phenomenal because of his vision and leader-ship. His own investment in this community has been integrated into the community, and has enhanced the quality of life for the people of the area. It is an example of how investment and develop-ment can be made to be com-patible with the natural lifestyle and natural way that people live," Golding said.

- JIS