Murder tarnishes tourism prospects

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The killing of a United States visitor at a Cardiff Hall resort villa is one murder too many.

There was a time when, if eight intruders invaded a resort villa on the north coast and murdered a guest, it would send shock waves throughout the entire nation.

Now, no one seems to care.

Some persons are even beginning to wonder how many tourists have to be murdered before something is done to stop the madness.

What would we, as a nation, be doing or saying to the rest of the world if all the guests - about 12 people, including women and children - had been murdered at the villa that night?

The fact that this incident will seriously damage an already fragile villa business and deter other foreign investors from buying a villa, or any other real estate on the north coast, seems to bother no one, except maybe a few realtors and villa owners who are now convinced that they could not sell for half the market value.

Protect our livelihood!

When do we start protecting our livelihood? Is it while it is alive, or do we attempt to resurrect the tourism industry after it has died?

We really need to address this issue urgently as a nation, and we have to do everything possible to stop the murderous rampage that is happening across Jamaica. Otherwise, all those fancy and expensive advertisements being used to promote Jamaica to visitors and investors will be nothing but a waste of time and money.

The ministers of tourism and national security, along with JAMPRO, had better ready themselves for serious fallout from this incident. They should immediately put in place every possible measure to prevent such a recurrence.

MICHAEL C. MOYSTON

jahspeed@hotmail.com