HIP STRIP IS NOT MONTEGO BAY

The recent signing of agreements totaling JA$95 million by Tourism Minister Ed. Bartlett is another sure sign that tourism officials are only thinking up to their noses for immediate gain, rather than long-term for sustainable economic benefits. This follows up on the JA$23.5 million Mobile Command and Control Police Unit in November, which is to enhance security along the same strip.

Now don’t get me wrong, a little “Spruce up” is definitely a good thing. My problem is that the “sprucing up” is concentrated in only one area of an entire city that has contributed more to tourism than anywhere else in Jamaica.

For tourism to thrive it must be understood, practiced and appreciated by the entire community. To this end the sharing of the benefits with the same community must be just and equitable. You can’t have one set of people enjoying the labour of the masses while the masses suffer economically and socially. Apart from the people who work on the hip strip and those who own the hip strip, who are the other direct beneficiaries of the large sums that are being invested?

Don’t tell me that when people get their pay, they will spend it in the larger community or that when taxes are paid the larger community benefits too. The rest of Montego Bay pays their taxes to fix roads, pay electricity bills and take care of the entire city too. In fact they have contributed in some way or the other to the nearly JA$119 million that is going to be spent. Don’t you think that more of them need to benefit directly? Most of the products/services that are sold on the Hip Strip are not even bought or made in Montego Bay.

Why not spruce up Sam Sharpe Square so that tourists can go to the magnificent edifice called "Montego Bay Civic Center" and learn more about our heritage and history? Perhaps while they are there they can buy an ice-cold jelly from the jelly man, enjoy the natural taste of real Jamaican fruits from the fruit vendor or perhaps a sky juice from the juice vendor? What about fixing up the other streets so that a busload of tourists can take a walk into the history of the St. James Parish Church, the Dome on Dome Street or the Burchell Baptist church where Samuel ‘Daddy’ Sharpe, one of our national heroes was buried?

The industry talks everyday about community tourism, but all that talk is a ‘bag a mout.’ The tourism ministry’s action is nothing more than shortsightedness and runs parallel to the transportation of cruise passengers pass the craft markets to the in bond stores, or the all-inclusive hotels keeping tourists locked away from the real Jamaican experience.

When tourists go to destinations in the United States, France or wherever, they visit churches, monuments, dead yards, swamps, alligator fields and the places that make the best old fashion cuisine. I remember going to Cuba some years ago and part of the tour was to an old broken down upstairs bar, where the guy made one of the best local drinks. We paid I think, US$3.00 for a taste. That was part of a tour. They also had a tour to one of their oldest churches that had outside, a lady who was the best voodoo/palm reading practitioner in Havana, who by the way was charging for her services. This is how these other places ensure that communities benefit. They don’t give lip service to community tourism they practice it as well.