THE residents (as well as some visitors) of Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth are greatly concerned about plans for a proposed sports complex. No one has come forward with a proposal to members of the community, but the plans seem to have passed the regulatory agencies as construction is now targeted for 2005.

The two men, who are the main brains behind this plan, are known to the community, yet despite numerous requests made of them to hold a public meeting to discuss the matter, or at the very least, to inform the community of the said plans, no answer has been received.

Information about the 'plan' was discovered on the treasurebeach.net forum, via a member of the Jamaica Tourist Board (neither of the men). It details the intention to bring teams of foreign youths to Treasure Beach for sports training, as is being done in Barbados. Barbados however, has all the proper infrastructure and services of a very organised island, such as, hotels to provide accommodation, restaurants to provide a variety of foods, proper sewerage disposal and garbage collection, a consistent supply of running water, etc. Most of those elements are drastically lacking in St Elizabeth.

Some of the basic concerns therefore are:

1. Where will these internationals be housed? Who will monitor them, especially at night? (they are youths after all).

2. Can the area withstand such as continuous influx of people and traffic?

3. How will the residents be able to keep out undesireables, intimidators, drug dealers, from coming in and corrupting our children?

4. Is the area likely to end up like Negril ú aggressive and full of hustlers?

5. What is the size of this complex? How many people will it accommodate?

6. Will this complex also be the place to host events and festivals? What about noise control?

7. What positive spinoffs will there be for the Treasure Beach community?

8. Who will manage/supervise the place?

Life there will quickly change, and maybe for the worse. Once a community is exposed, never to return to its innocence and passive way of life.

The people of this area, are for the most part, a very gentle, trusting people. They do not yet live behind burglar bars, and it certainly would be a great pity for them to resort to living like caged animals. They are hard-working farmers and fishermen and make an honest living. They need to be respected by the planners of this sports complex, be it a private enterprise or Government-backed venture, and they should be asked if this plan is what they want.

The proposed site is situated in the middle of a residential community with no apparent road access to it. What of the zoning regulations? Seemingly, no consideration has been given to constant car and foot traffic, noise and much 'kicking up of dust' with which the poor residents there will have to contend.

A plan for such a drastic change in any community must be thought out properly and one or two persons cannot determine 'a plan' for an entire community, without consultation with the residents? It seems as if ego has taken over sensitivity and basic respect for our neighbours.

No one it seems (from comments made so far on the "treasurebeach.net" forum) is opposed to a small sports facility for the local youths to play football, cricket, netball, etc. This is needed in the community and would be appreciated by all, young and old alike, if located at an appropriate site.

We would like to know if the plan includes participation of the local youth at the sports complex, or is it going to be mainly for the internationals?

Wouldn't it be a better idea of changing the core of a quiet, peaceful and mostly residential fishing village; the low-keyed lifestyle of Treasure Beach is what sets it apart from the rest of over-commercialised tourist areas in Jamaica, and is most appealing to both residents and visitors alike. Why would anyone want to change that?

If this plan is Government backed and approved, perhaps some agency of the Government could enlighten the Treasure Beach community by producing the blueprint, including environmental impact studies (both positive and negative) of such a project being placed in the middle of a small fishing/farming community?

This could take place in the form of a public meeting on the matter where we could discuss the pros and cons. Private or Government financed, it will inevitably affect the lives and livelihood of those who live and visit here?

It is such a beautiful and quiet part of Jamaica...why spoil a good thing?

Samuel Phillips

Top Hill

St Elizabeth

sbp332@hotmail.com

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