Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
Past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Winston Dear (left), presents an award to chairman of the Montego Bay Cruise Shipping Committee, John Byles (right). Byles was accepting the award on behalf of David Lindo during the fourth annual Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Christmas luncheon aboard the Carnival Conquest cruise line earlier this week. Also in the photo is president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mark Kerr-Jarrett, (centre). Mr. Lindo, who initiated the first annual Christmas luncheon aboard a cruise line, was absent due to illness and sent his apologies. - PHOTO BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN
THE MUCH anticipated winter tourist season for Port Antonio was given a jump-start earlier this week as cruise vessel Braemaer made its call at the Ken Wright Shipping Pier on Tuesday.
However, former vice-president of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, Bent Kristensien, was not entirely pleased with the day's activities in Port Antonio, and used the opportunity to make a call for better and more professional co-ordinating practices that include stakeholders in the parish.
"The conduct of the cruise ship operations in Port Antonio is once again being conducted by remote control," Mr. Kristensien charged. "Very few of our local officials in tourism or even the business people had no direct influence on the operations. Even ground transportation was pre-arranged by a tour operator from either Ocho Rios or Montego Bay."
LITTLE INPUT FROM RESIDENTS
Mr. Kristensien pointed out that the display and activities at the Neville Antonio Park, which is adjacent to the Ken Wright Shipping Pier was "hurriedly put together over the last few days by a Kingston promotional company, which had gotten approval from the Portland Parish Council to conduct business at the park."
"Again, it is clear that the local people have very little input in the planning of these activities," he said.
The admission fee to enter the Neville Antonio Park, US$15 for tourists and J$1,000 for local people, was a major bone of contention for residents and some business operators because they found the imposition of the fee exceedingly high.
JUTA PESSIMISTIC
On that day, which signalled the start of the winter tourist season, over 700 visitors arrived aboard the Braemaer which docked at the Ken Wright Pier, and the heavy security presence ensured that tourists were able to walk about freely, without the threat of harassment.
But while Port Antonio was welcoming back cruise ship arrivals, some Portland chapter members of the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA Tours) were pessimistic about the future of tourism in Port Antonio.
Some of the JUTA minibus operators who converged on the outskirts of the Ken Wright Pier expressed concern as to why other tour buses were called in from Ocho Rios and Montego Bay to provide shuttle service, when they are adequately prepared to fill the shuttle service situation.
"If 30-seater buses are required, we are competent enough to fill that gap, and we are still at a loss as to why we are not being used to provide that kind of service," a JUTA minibus operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
In the meantime, president of the craft vendors association, Elaine McCanuff said that "expectations for the winter tourism season are high from the craft vendors' perspective".
