Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce 40th Anniversary

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020 7 the garnering of well-needed for- eign exchange earnings in the coun- try’s coffers. But it was the tourism industry that created the greatest fillip to the city’s socio-economic land- scape, driven by the visionary efforts of individuals such as the American tycoon John Rollins (Rose Hall Developments) and Jamaican entrepreneurs Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart (Sandals) and John Issa (SuperClubs), as well as hos- pitality pioneer Heinz Simonitsch (Half Moon) who oversaw the rapid expansion in hotel construction along the city’s revered coastline. In this vein, the introduction of the concept of the all-inclusive hotels (Sandals and SuperClubs) soon dominated the regional hotel landscape, firmly putting Montego Bay at the forefront of the hospi- tality industry in Jamaica and the Caribbean. In the wake of these develop- ments would emerge the Hip Strip and the Elegant Corridor featuring many world-class family attrac- tions, renowned entertainment hotspots, legendary golf courses and exquisite In Bond shops. Today, the once sleepy little fishing village is known as ‘The Complete Resort’, ‘The Friendly City’and‘The Gateway to the Caribbean’. But there is another side to Montego Bay, which is its pride of place as western Jamaica’s primary commercial and financial centre. Montegonians over the years have bemoaned the perception that Kingston (the island’s capital) is Jamaica and, in response to this, they have been fiercely going on the defensive (if not offensive) to ensure that the so-called‘Second City’gets its fair share of attention from the powers that be in Kingston in cor- porate and political spheres. This fierce stance has seen the city being dubbed ‘The Republic of Montego Bay’ for many decades. Against this backdrop, the St James Municipal Corporation (formerly parish council) and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been in the forefront of lobbying for meaningful improvements to be made to the city’s infrastruc- ture, inclusive of traffic flow, hous- ing solutions and socio-economic interventions, especially as these relate to the general citizenry. Some major initiatives over the years have been the call for a by- pass road to ease the persistent traffic congestion in especially the downtown area of Montego Bay and its environs, the decentralisation of several services which can only be accessed in Kingston, including a branch of the Supreme Court, ed- ucational entities, the upgrading of sporting facilities to attract top-class international events, a modern and fully equipped fire station, recrea- tional and cultural centres designed not just for tourists but locals, and the restoration and upgrading of the Cornwall Regional Hospital and a major transportation (multimodal) centre, among others. Needless to say, the city’s eco- nomic fortunes could be greatly enhanced were it not for the ugly spectre of crime. Juxtaposed with the impressive developments in the business and tourism sector has been the harsh reality that there are some 21 squatter settlements dotting the city’s landscape that have been the hotbed of much of the crime and violence that plague the parish of St James. So even as the city celebrates its 40th anniver- sary, it is hoped that meaningful and lasting interventions will be forthcoming to enable Montego Bay to realise its fullest potential as a burgeoning metropolis. Lloyd B. Smith is a past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who in 2016 was conferred with the Business Leader Wall of Fame award by that organisation. ZONE CONTINUED FROM 4 ‘As part of its rapid evolution, Montego Bay saw the construction and development of the Montego Freeport and with these major ports, which gave the city two accessible gateways by air and sea, the western end of the island became poised for extensive growth and development.’ MONTEGO BAY 40TH ANNIVERSARY F ATURE | THE GLE NER | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020