Dear Editor,

Jamaica is blessed with some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Many people have come to our shores and are in awe at the quality of our natural resources and the people. The north coast has many of the most pristine beauty spots and is the epicentre for our money-earning capacity.

I grew up in the one of the most scenic towns — Lucea, Hanover. Every day I would watch the waves racing to the shores, the magnificent blue skies caressing the sea and white clouds hanging from the heavens in brilliant sunshine. These are some of the remarkable features which make strangers from strange lands try to get a slice of our paradise.

I recall when the tourist trade was not so developed in western Jamaica and in the water there were many sea creatures which now seem fewer like sea eggs. Then fishermen would have a large catch because the volume of consumption of fish was not so large. Many tourists in the 1960s used to ride from Montego Bay past my house to Negril. This was about 50 miles, before the advent of the North Coast Highway and the straighter roads. That would be unheard of now as times have changed.

There were no all-inclusive hotels and tourists would blend with people from small communities where they would be taught the ropes by the locals. At the time some were hippies and they were very happy among Jamaicans. They would try our marijuana and ride bikes and beach buggies. The tourist industry has grown immensely over these four decades.

Paris Taylor

Greater Portmore

paristaylor82@hotmail.com