VOX POP

Photos and text by Carl Gilchrist

• Vana Taylor, chairperson, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Runaway Bay-Ocho Rios chapter, and hotel operator

Number one: we need to clean up Ocho Rios. I'm happy to say that starting shortly, the JHTA has spearheaded a project to get Ocho Rios cleaned up, and we intend to follow through with it, not only for cleanliness and beautification, but also security-wise.

Also, we need to get the powers that be to decide on the cruise-ship pier in Ocho Rios. We have to get that settled. Carnival Cruise Lines has been trying to deal with Ocho Rios like how Royal Caribbean dealt with Falmouth, and the decision cannot be made by the powers that be. So that is one thing we're going to be keeping up the pressure on.

We have land-based tourists, but we can't do without the cruise-ship passengers. We need that for the survival of our citizens and the parish.

• Bobby Thakurani, president, Ocho Rios Indian Association, and operator of duty-free shop House of Diamonds

Going forward, we have one major problem in Ocho Rios that over the years cruise lines have argued and talked about and tried to sort out: that is the harassment of cruise-shipping passengers, which we think, as a business sector in Ocho Rios,we have never looked at. We should try and clean up the harassment.

We know we cannot change what has happened with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, but definitely, we can market our product so we can attract lots more cruise lines. We have much better products to offer. It's just our house we need to get clean and make it the most beautiful.

• Dalford Smith, taxi operator (JUTA)

What was the purpose, the reason and the cause for all these ships to be drawn away from Ocho Rios in the first place? We have to figure that out, then from there, we would have to see what we can do to make improvements. That's the only way.

One of the reasons, I think, was the harassment. So if you can get rid of most of these people who are not allowing the tourists to move freely, then we wouldn't have this problem.

Part of the improvement, of course, has to do with repairing the pier and bringing it up to date. Also, the cost of goods. Things are so expensive here compared to other places, I think.

• Kumar Sujanani, president, St Ann Chamber of Commerce and in-bond merchant

We must make up our minds to make cruise shipping the sole business in Ocho Rios as far as the ports are concerned. Ocho Rios is a resort town; it is not a commercial or mining town! It was a mining town 50 to 60 years ago. We must dedicate our berthing facilities and piers strictly to cruise shipping. If we are prepared to do this, I think we will then be able to turn the corner as it relates to bringing back Ocho Rios to its former glory.

Until we're prepared to make Reynolds pier a wonderful cruise shipping, modern berthing facility, we will not be able to turn it around to what it was before.

• Delroy Morgan, general manager, Island Village

Falmouth is a blessing for Ocho Rios because it forces the stakeholders in Ocho Rios to come to realise that together we can make this work. It needs a rebuilding effort involving all stakeholders. We all need to have a synergistic strategy that will regain Ocho Rios' former glory. I think the best days of Ocho Rios are ahead of us. I see Falmouth's impact on Ocho Rios as a short-term impact in the sense that once Ocho Rios gets its act together, the dollars will come back because we're still the main area for attraction. We have the hotel rooms. Let's build on what we already have. We have the stopover guests. Let's find a way to attract them into our business.

• Joseph Gayle, craft vendor, Old Craft Market

We need proper infrastructure in terms of the piers. Most of the people who are in Ocho Rios are not from here, but they come and violate the situation - like harassment - and that affects tourism. That is why the move to Falmouth. We need some drastic action to build back Ocho Rios. The attractions are here, it's just the pier that is the major concern.