Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett does not hold back when addressing the issue of safety and security for the visitors and residents.
In a message earlier this year to travel industry partners following
the announcement regarding the enactment of a state of emergency in St.
James Parish, where Montego Bay is located, Bartlett said that enhanced
security measures were put in place to ensure the continued safety of
all, although Jamaica "has been fortunate to have had very few negative
incidents against visitors." The order allows the military to support the police in joint security
operations.
He expanded on the security topic recently when he
addressed the conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners
of Police in Montego Bay. He said that while the Caribbean earned
$37 billion in revenues and attracted more than 30 million visitors in
2017, both figures could have been higher.
"It could have
been 50 million visitors and $50 billion in earnings had it not been
for a rumbling volcano: the creeping sounds of insecurity that are
pervading our Caribbean space," he said. "We have
operated under the basis that we have the most stable economies in the
world, that we have the best warm weather and secured destinations. This
meeting is timely to address those rumblings that have spread across
the region."
The state of emergency, which was set to expire May 2, has been extended for another three months by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who pointed to a significant reduction in murders in the parish year-to-date compared with the same period in 2017. He reported that between Jan. 1 and April 30 there were 62
fewer murders than during the corresponding period last year.
A similar state of emergency was enacted in St. Catherine's parish in southeastern Jamaica on March 18 due to a surge in violent crime. It is set to expire on July 3.
Bartlett said that the state of public emergency in Jamaica was a proactive approach and a good idea, although "it caused a feeling of jitters initially. We have to remain committed. We cannot allow the crime situation to get back out of control."
To emphasize his point that the emergency measure is working, he said that Jamaica's overall visitor numbers grew 6% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same time period last year. "That is coming off a record 2017, when we grew by 12% and had a record 4.3 million visitors coming to Jamaica," he said.
He told conference participants that the continued growth of the tourism industry in the region is predicated on safety, security and seamlessness, "of which you are all the custodians, and which I trust you will do all that you can to protect."