- Michael SloleyChildren play around old cannons and gunnery, relics of Port Royal's past as a fort and a place of pirates and rum.
Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
SITTING in his office along Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston, Robert Stephens can look across the calm waters of the Kingston Harbour to Port Royal in the distance.
Sheltering from the heat of the noonday sun, several young boys lounged on the beach of the quiet fishing village out on the Palisadoes peninsula. They, too, look out to sea, possibly anticipating the time when the Port Royal Heritage Tourism Project will get off the ground.
The project, being undertaken by Mr. Stephens' Port Royal Development Project Company Limited (PRDCL), is designed to transform the sleepy harbour into a major tourist attraction and cruise ship port of call.
Colourful past
Drawing on the city's colourful past, Mr. Stephens envisages an earthquake experience, an underwater city, eco-tours, and a pirate area to attract more than 10 million visitors annually.
He also dreams of a hi-tech entertainment centre in the Kingston Harbour, where income would flow not only from gate receipts but international television rights and licences.
"It's a phenomenal project, an ambitious one, bursting with promise and possibilities," Mr. Stephens said.
Yet, after nearly a decade of planning, it is still to get off the ground.
The pier project was officially approved by Cabinet in 1995, but, five years later, is still awaiting final approval from the Development Council in the Prime Minister's Office.
"We are awaiting sign-off from several Ministries and governmental agencies," Mr. Stephens told The Sunday Gleaner last week.
For him, it has been years of hard going - conceptualizing, researching, marketing, convincing the "Doubting Thomases", and raising financing. And, if he had not believed strongly in his dreams, Mr. Stephens would have given up long ago.
"I never anticipated all the hurdles I've had to overcome," he confessed "and have been learning patience like Job of old. But the experience has shown me how important it is to plan properly, rather than to rush into something and have to do it all over again."
Mr. Stephens' hopes have been kept alive by the US$100 million in investment expected to be generated by the project. Another US$100 million is also anticipated from concessionaires and leases of gift shops and restaurants.
He also talks glowingly of approximately 19,000 jobs to come on stream for residents in Port Royal and others.
"Employment will be provided for persons working directly in the project tour guides, those in shops, restaurants, etc), as well as others who will be providing goods and services from the outside," he points out. "In fact, the quality of life is going to change significantly for persons in Port Royal."
Too long
But surrounded by dilapidated houses, battered roads, overflowing sewers and high unemployment, the residents of Port Royal feel that Mr. Stephens' dreams of "change" is taking too long.
And, in a tightly-knit community where everyone knows each other well, they vent their frustrations and hopes.
"Mi nuh really believe in Mr. Stephens' plans, for dem taking too long to come," says S....(name changed on request). "Mi hearing 'bout it so long, and all now a ship caan even dock."
For although locals and some visitors come regularly to sample bammy and fish dishes, this eastern outpost has not benefitted much in the Jamaican tourism industry.
"I agree that Mr. Stephens' project sounds good, but how long will it take to start?" asks X (name changed by request).
Apart from their frustration about long delays and changing deadlines, the residents fear that development plans will not totally address their needs.
"I hear them speaking about housing, but what kind of houses can they build in this area, prone to earthquake, and hurricane," says M.... "And, for all he talks, Mr. Stephens will not be in charge of housing, for I hear that we will have to meet National Housing Trust qualifications."
Still, amid the frustration and impatience, there are pockets of optimism, such as from Gloria Prawl (Miss Gloria, as she's known), who operates a fishing business and a restaurant.
While the skeptics point to her "already fortunate position", Mrs. Prawl urges residents to be patient and wait for the project to start.
"I believe that this project will get off the ground, and housing, water, drainage and all that the people have mentioned are in the plan," she said.
She is one of the town's representatives on the project's planning committee, and claims that residents are usually kept up to date on developments.
"A lot of good, especially employment, is expected to come out of this project," she said, " And I would urge the residents, especially the young people to prepare themselves for the opportunities through training. Whatever comes, they will be able to participate in it."
It is the same sentiment echoed by Mr. Stephens, who states that that action plan developed with the community is now being implemented.
A $10 million learning centre, developed in association with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, now offers computer and Internet facilities to residents. It is equipped with state-of-the-art computers, and an art and craft and performing arts centre.
But the developers also hope to provide skills training and entrepreneurial guidance to residents, in collaboration with local and international donor agencies.
"A lot of things are going to be put in place to help the people of Port Royal to expand their own capabilities and take advantage of what will be coming later down the road," promised Mr. Stephens.
