4 | TPDCONNECT AUGUST 2018
ST MARY GETS $38M UPGRADE TO
MARKING STONE BEACH
The people of Annotto Bay and surrounding communities now
have a modern beach equipped with state of the art facilities
to enjoy at their leisure.
Marking Stone Beach, which has been upgraded by the
Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at a cost of $38.3 million, was
officially opened on Wednesday July 25, 2018 by Minister of
Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.
In upgrading the beach, he said a complete entertainment
facility had been created making it an attraction in its own
right with three gazebos, well-appointed restroom, parking
facilities, a guard house, landscaping works and other
improvements.
“We recognize that beaches are a great resource of tourism.
In fact our scenic beaches attract a large number of domestic
and inbound tourists. This is why we have ensured that the
Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has committed to transform
one each in every parish into a quality recreational space,”
Minister Bartlett said.
Minister Bartlett added that these beaches must operate at the
highest and best international standards “and must be avail-
able to residents and visitors alike.”
To date, in addition to $38.3 million on Marking Stone Beach,
the TEF has spent over $104 million on three other beaches
in its overall beach development programme, with Lyssons
Beach in St Thomas to be opened next having been upgraded
at a cost of $49 million; Boston in Portland, $27.8 million and
Burwood in Trelawny, $28 million.
“We’re excited about this because tourism is growing at an
enormously fast pace and the growth in Jamaica is a reflection
of the global rate that is taking place. In fact, we are growing
ahead of the world growth pattern, and even then we are ahead
of the global growth pattern for the next ten years in tourism,”
said Minister Bartlett.
Mr Bartlett said with the growth in tourism, the need for space
to accommodate millions of tourists plus the local population
could create tension as happens in some countries with tourism.
There was therefore the need to build new capacities to deal with
expansion and growth of the industry to prevent friction over the
occupation of space by an increasing population of tourist and
locals combined.
“That is why we have to spend so much on expanding our
beaches and to make sure that there are adequate beach and
recreational facilities for the Jamaican people as well as for the
tourists and it’s within that context that we are doing ten beaches
this year across Jamaica,” he said.
Concurrently, he said, “We are also looking at what we call
liveable and walkable spaces so the Ministry of Tourism is
working with Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), through TEF
to improve the physical condition of a number of communities
across the country so that Jamaicans working in the industry
won’t leave wonderful hotels and go back to less than ideal living
conditions.”
Source: Ministry of Tourism
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (left) ensured everything was in order on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 before formally handing over the Marking
Stone Beach in Annotto Bay, St Mary to the municipal corporation. The beach was upgraded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at a cost of
$38.3 million. Seen here with Minister Bartlett on tour of the beach are (left to right) Executive Director of TEF, Dr Carey Wallace; Member of Parliament
for South East St. Mary, Dr. Norman Dunn; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith; Chairman of TEF, Godfrey Dyer (partially hidden)
and Councillor Hugh Bryan.