Go talk to the mayor of Montego Bay, Ambassador Silva

Saturday, November 21, 2009 5:41 PM

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Editorials

Friday, July 03, 2009

We would like to believe Mr Jesus Silva, Spain's ambassador to Jamaica, when he says he has the country's best interest at heart. After all, he's been here for over four years, and from what we have seen so far, has made energetic attempts to foster good relationships between his country and ours.

As a matter of principle we find no fault with the concerns he voiced at last Friday's opening of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 13th annual trade expo, about the dangers of condoning tourist harassment and criminality.

Indeed, if it is that Montego Bay's mayor, Mr Charles Sinclair, and his team at the St James Parish Council are approaching the problem in the wrong way, as Mr Silva charged, the country needs to know.

However, there is much to be said for diplomacy, even in the face of sore vexation, such as Mr Silva seemed to have been feeling at the opening.
Diplomacy, as everyone who understands tourism knows, will work wonders where acrimony will not.

And when we read Mr Sinclair's response in yesterday's edition of our sister title, the Observer West, we have to wonder why the ambassador chose to raise the issue in the way he did.
For according to Mr Sinclair, contrary to the ambassador's allegations that he has been 'fighting' with him over the issue, there has been no communication to his office regarding same.

"...at no time has the ambassador or anyone on his behalf ever written or orally communicated any concerns to my office or other departments at the St James Parish Council," Mr Sinclair stated.

At the same time, we have Mr Cecil Davis, the deputy mayor of Montego Bay, on record reiterating the position that Mr Silva so vehemently disagreed with, namely that care has to be taken with regard to the displacement of hustlers in order to ensure that they are not left without a livelihood. So it seems fair to conclude that there has been a breakdown of communication somewhere along the line. Either that, or someone is guilty of making mischief.

In any case, it seems clear that there is the need for both parties to resolve this issue, which really does in truth have the power to undermine our tourism product, which has been doing quite well given the current harsh global economic climate.

In this regard, we must agree with Mr Sinclair that these concerns, while undoubtedly a matter of public interest, need to be discussed in a rational manner as opposed to the public forum chosen by Mr Silva.
In fact, we are minded to agree with Mr Sinclair that the manner in which Mr Silva raised the issue was indeed inappropriate. For even if Mr Sinclair had been present to hear his speech, what opportunity of replying would he have had on that occasion?

The most that would have been achieved is the creation of an uncomfortable and embarrassing situation for the mayor.

And given the information that has now emerged concerning the St James Parish Council's efforts to deal with the issue, it appears that he would have been subjected to said discomfort and embarrassment all for nothing.

Yet, as the mayor has pointed out, it is not too late to get back on track, as the door to his office remains open to accommodate discussion.

Mr Silva would do well in this regard to consider walking through it with an apology in hand.

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