The Editor, Sir:

This is a letter to the Minister of Tourism:

Dear Minister:

I am aware that you are very enthusiastic about increasing the growth of the tourist industry to double digits. However, I know that the tools to enhance your double digits are few, whereas the problems to prevent your success are many.

Top of the list is disorderly behaviour of some of our citizens; inadequate garbage collection in most of our towns and villages; the dilapidated condition of many of our historical towns and buildings, inadequate health facilities in the tourist locality, and most of all crime against the person.

I will not go into the history or details of such talks. It is 45 years since we attained our Independence, yet we continue to sell our wonderful historical product in the same old package of preceding years.

Jamaica has a magnificent history that not many of our adult citizens or children know, because much of our history is not taught in schools.

Why are the towns of Black River, Falmouth, Morant Bay, St. Ann's Bay, Spanish Town, Port Antonio and the ever-great Port Royal in such dilapidated condition?

These are towns that have a wealth of Jamaican history. We should be proficient enough to either do it ourselves or encourage a joint venture with an investor to develop what is, and can be the best tourist attractions in the Caribbean.

We have been flogging the same old attractions for too many years without repackaging the product. Here are samples:

BLACK RIVER

Thomas Leyden, a Scotsman, brought the first car to Black River and Jamaica. The Waterloo Guest House which was also owned by Leyden was the first residence to have electricity in Jamaica in 1893. This house is still standing in a neglected environment.

FALMOUTH

Who is William Knibb? And what significance is he to this historical town? The residents of this town received piped water before residents of New York City in the United States.

MORANT BAY

Is it that the slave rebellion of 1865 has no significance to our history? Maybe that is why the historical courthouse which was recently destroyed by fire, was not insured. When will it ever be refurbished?

Mr. Minister, if you can address all of the above, you and I guarantee that tourism in Jamaica will definitely be a success for the benefit of our citizenry.

I am, etc.,

GERALD BURTON

Island_prince58@yahoo.com