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MoBay convention centre delay puts tourism interests on sticky wicket
Barrington Flemming, Hospitality Jamaica Writer
A delay in the construction of the U$45-million convention centre at Rose Hall in Montego Bay <span style="font-weight: bold">has tourism interests worried,</span> as failure to complete the project on time could mean major embarrassment to Jamaica.
The convention centre, which was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2010, is now likely to be completed in the first week of January 2011, a situation, which has tourism interests worried.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Wayne Cummings says the protracted delay is a major cause for concern for all tourism stakeholders, citing that the problem is with the main hall which has fallen woefully behind schedule.
"The planners, after having looked at the project, believe they are about two months behind and the discussions which have been held so far are how to reduce that gap to a shorter time frame. It is hoped that the things that are outstanding would be items that would not necessarily keep us out of the facility, and to ensure that they are not a visual impairment to the visitors," Cummings explained.
Cummings says it is hoped that the Urban Development Corporation will move urgently on the matter to ensure that it is completed in time to spare Jamaica what would be sure embarrassment.
He says nonetheless, the convention centre is a welcome addition to the tourism product, which now offers rooms and leisure that are of international standards. The convention centre will provide a multi-purpose facility of international standards to complement this.
Meanwhile, a seemingly upset Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett would not comment on the situation. Questioned for a response by Hospitality Jamaica on the delay and the challenges it would pose for the tourism ministry to host Caribbean Marketplace 2010, Bartlett chose not to respond.
Ground was broken February 15 last year by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and work was expected to be completed by December this year.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The project is being funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China under an agreement signed in 2007, which was initiated in 2005. </span>
The centre is situated on 9.3 hectares of land adjacent to the Rose Hall Great House, St James. It will provide convention facilities, inclusive of meeting rooms, banquet halls and exhibition space for western Jamaica.
barrington.flemming@ gleanerjm.com
Barrington Flemming, Hospitality Jamaica Writer
A delay in the construction of the U$45-million convention centre at Rose Hall in Montego Bay <span style="font-weight: bold">has tourism interests worried,</span> as failure to complete the project on time could mean major embarrassment to Jamaica.
The convention centre, which was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2010, is now likely to be completed in the first week of January 2011, a situation, which has tourism interests worried.
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Wayne Cummings says the protracted delay is a major cause for concern for all tourism stakeholders, citing that the problem is with the main hall which has fallen woefully behind schedule.
"The planners, after having looked at the project, believe they are about two months behind and the discussions which have been held so far are how to reduce that gap to a shorter time frame. It is hoped that the things that are outstanding would be items that would not necessarily keep us out of the facility, and to ensure that they are not a visual impairment to the visitors," Cummings explained.
Cummings says it is hoped that the Urban Development Corporation will move urgently on the matter to ensure that it is completed in time to spare Jamaica what would be sure embarrassment.
He says nonetheless, the convention centre is a welcome addition to the tourism product, which now offers rooms and leisure that are of international standards. The convention centre will provide a multi-purpose facility of international standards to complement this.
Meanwhile, a seemingly upset Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett would not comment on the situation. Questioned for a response by Hospitality Jamaica on the delay and the challenges it would pose for the tourism ministry to host Caribbean Marketplace 2010, Bartlett chose not to respond.
Ground was broken February 15 last year by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and work was expected to be completed by December this year.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The project is being funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China under an agreement signed in 2007, which was initiated in 2005. </span>
The centre is situated on 9.3 hectares of land adjacent to the Rose Hall Great House, St James. It will provide convention facilities, inclusive of meeting rooms, banquet halls and exhibition space for western Jamaica.
barrington.flemming@ gleanerjm.com
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