A November 17 meeting on the beach erosion problem facing Negril, ended with the formation of a committee comprising government, private sector and environmental interests in the resort town.

The meeting was coordinated by Dr Wykeham McNeill, state minister for tourism and Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland.

Pointing out that a number of local organisations in the area had done studies and had different ideas on how to address the problem, McNeill said the committee would deal exclusively with the issue of beach erosion.

“The terms of reference of this committee are quite simple. Their mission really is to re-establish the beach and to maintain it,” he said.

The new 12-member committee comprises Kendrick Davis and Nadia Ferguson from the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society;

Wayne Cummings, Ray Arthurs and Jean Spence-Jackson from the Negril Chamber of Commerce; Barry Reynolds from the Negril/Green Island Planning Authority; Evelyn Smith of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; Daniel Grizzle from the Negril Resort Board, and Peter Kelly and Janet Hyde of the National Environment and Planning Agency.

Barry Reynolds has been asked to act as the convener and coordinator for the first meeting of the committee, which will be held Tuesday, November 22.