THE JAMAICAN economy is showing some signs of recovery, an important element of which is the role of the tourist industry both in terms of increased tourist arrivals and foreign investments in new hotels. Whatever national solace we have been taking from this has been jolted by the recent warning issued by Mrs. Aloun Assamba, Minister of Tourism and Industry, that unless a solution is found for the increasing crime and violence in the society the tourist industry is facing a dismal future.
The Minister must know whereof she speaks. She left no room for complacency when she went so far as to say that, regardless of how much money she gets from the Minister of Finance to promote tourism, there is nothing she can do as Minister to move the industry forward "if we are constantly having to fight the battle against crime." The Minister's warning applies not only to a possible fall-off in tourist arrivals but to investors changing their minds about building hotels in Jamaica at this time. No one could criticise this cautious hesitation because tourism cannot prosper as an oasis in an island being torn apart by violence.
We sense the Minister's frustration at what could be seen as a waste of taxpayer's money in trying to maintain Jamaica's image as a tourist destination, by definition a place for rest and recreation, even as Jamaican citizens are slaughtering each other at an unprecedented rate. Public funds are being spent to upgrade the Norman Manley Airport, increasing its capacity from 5,000 to 15,000 passengers daily. Millions have already been spent on the Sangster Airport in Montego Bay. This is good forward planning for the Cricket World Cup series in 2007, but can only be justified on the basis that there will be healthy growth in tourism over the long haul.
In a previous editorial we called for our leaders to recognise a psychological state of emergency in the fight against crime and it appears that Mrs. Assamba's dire warning falls in this category. There may be no one simple solution to the problem of crime but it is salutary to see a Minister at Cabinet level facing it with unflinching honesty.
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