Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President Wayne Cummings says the move by Government to tighten the supervision of strata properties will help facilitate Jamaica's transition into the timeshare market.

The Registration (Strata Titles) (Amendment) Regulations, approved in the House of Representatives in March, is aimed at providing strata corporations — which has a role to manage properties for the benefit of all unit holders — with the administrative tools to more effectively handle issues that may arise with fractional ownership or multi-dwelling complexes.

Cummings said the measure was timely as it compliments Jamaica's push towards the lucrative timeshare market. Conceptualised in Europe in the 1960's, a timeshare is a property, typically a resort condominium unit, in which multiple parties have rights to use.

"Strata has a lot to do with timeshare and a lot of that condominium type of operation... you're talking about significant investment and one of the problems that Jamaica has had is that people have invested in very sizeable developments and have not stood up to their responsibilities," said Cummings on Monday, addressing Observer editors and reporters at their weekly Monday Exchange forum at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue headquarters in Kingston.

A major problem at many strata properties across Jamaica is substandard upkeep due to poor collection of maintenance fees, with industry sources estimating a delinquency rate of up to 95 per cent of property owners.

"They don't pay the maintenance fee and they don't do a lot of things," noted Cummings.

"Particularly if they end up being runners of a hotel, the hotel operator ends up carrying the cost of paying the light bill, fixing this and that, and the owner doesn't participate and they choose to drop out of the pool when they feel like it etc" he added.

According to the JHTA boss, the Point Village, a very well known hotel in Negril that is now closed, was a victim of the high delinquencies.

"That has been a major problem and I'm very sadden that one such popular operator was the Point Village...They for many years had that challenge where the people, either they lived there or rented their place independently, didn't support their home," he said.

However, in a bid to address the issue, the Government ammendments included the setting up of a commission with a mandate to monitor strata corporations, ensuring that they function efficiently and effectively in the provision of services and ensuring that owners pay maintenance fees to cover administrative and other communal expenses on a property.

"So, they've done some work. I'm advised however that more work needs to be done, they've only dealt with the surface issues," said Cummings.

Government is currently working on a Timeshare legislation to re-introduce the concept of vacation ownership to the Jamaican market, which it beleives will be a gateway for the country to penetrate the luxury tourism market. Cummings noted that the most recognizable new investment in condominium is the Palmyra Resort and Spa at Rose Hall. The Palmyra sits on 16 acres of pristine beachfront land and is Jamaica's first luxury waterfront condominium resort for high-scale residential living and resort accommodation. The gated complex will comprise 11 villas, three 12-storey condos, and myriad recreation and health amenities.

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