St Ann Chamber of Commerce to set up committee to rescue 'Ochi'
Published:Saturday | September 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St Ann:
THE ST ANN Chamber of Commerce is to set up a steering committee to address problems that have led to a drastic reduction in the number of cruise ships visiting the resort town since the start of 2011.
This decision was taken at a St Ann Chamber of Commerce stakeholders meeting held Thursday night at the John McDowell conference Centre in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
One immediate task of the steering committee, which chamber president Kumar Sujanani said would be functional within a week, is to find ways to reduce incidents of tourist harassment in time for the arrival of the Norwegian Pearl to Ocho Rios next month.
The Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to dock in Ocho Rios on October 18 and will make 34 visits to the town during the cruise season, which runs from October this year to April 2012.
But the cruise line has served notice that it would only return to Ocho Rios for subsequent visits if the vexing issue of tourist harassment is adequately addressed by the authorities.
The meeting identified transport operators, especially those aligned to JUTA, J-CAL and Maxi Tours, as being responsible for most of the harassment meted out to cruise passengers who visit Ocho Rios.
This harassment takes the form of drivers soliciting passengers after they disembark. A decision was taken to invite the heads of these transport companies to meetings to discuss ways to eliminate harassment.
The stakeholders meeting attracted scores of persons from the St Ann business community, as well as several government agencies operating in the parish.
Businessman Manley Bowen opened the meeting with a 25-minute oral and visual presentation, which highlighted the deplorable conditions which now exist in the town, and highlighting the shortcomings of the police and courtesy corps officers, who he accused of enabling the continued harassment of cruise passengers.
But after two and a half hours of discussions and with no solutions forthcoming, a member of the chamber, Dr R.P.G. Crooks, suggested that the chamber move to establish a steering committee that would deal with the issues further.
This suggestion was accepted by the meeting. Dr Crooks also suggested that, in moving forward, the position of 'town manager' be re-established.
Sujanani said the meeting covered the salient points on the agenda and expressed the hope that, emerging from the meeting, the chamber would chart a way forward.
"We're going to try extremely hard to improve upon what currently exists. What currently exists certainly is not acceptable," Sujanani said.