Bartlett JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) spokesman on tourism Ed Bartlett yesterday called on Minister Portia Simpson Miller to tell the country when the Government's master plan for the industry would be revealed.
Mr. Bartlett was responding to an article in yesterday's Gleaner, in which Mrs. Simpson Miller warned critics of the plan "not to play politics with the country's biggest foreign exchange earner".
She also warned against taking things out of the master plan "and repeating it as if it was your idea".
However, Mr. Bartlett charged during a tour of North East St. Elizabeth yesterday that there was no tourism master plan.
"The JLP is calling on the Minister to present the master plan. We've been promised it for the past three years and more than $3 million has been spent on it, but it has missed every deadline since. So now I am annoyed to hear the Minister talking about the JLP taking ideas from the master plan," Mr. Bartlett said.
He said the ineptitude of the Government was why the plan, which is being funded by an overseas agency, had not been completed.
"The Minister must tell the country when it will be presented," Mr. Bartlett said.
"We've outlined our plan, Mr. Seaga has spoken about it in Parliament and I've been talking about it. It calls for investment and expansion and we've had a good response from investors. Our plan is backed by positive investment ideas and commitment. We are just waiting for the gate to fly so tourism can get back on track," he said.
He said the JLP had no intention of politicising the industry and was focusing on the need for development, growth, vision and strong management.
"But, we will continue to identify the flaws and criticise the management of the industry whenever necessary, just as we will applaud when they do the right things," Mr. Bartlett said.
