THE Government has temporarily suspended the use of personal watercraft (PWC), or jet skis, in Jamaica, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill has announced.

Dr McNeill also announced an extension of the ban on the importation of all PWC for a further six months, until October 15. He explained that this time around, the ban will be on all PWCs and not just the commercial ones.

He said that the new measures to regulate PWC operations in Jamaica were recently approved by Cabinet, and come in the wake of limited compliance to previous short-term steps to regulate these operations.

Other measures announced by the minister, which will become effective immediately, were the lifting of the moratorium on licensing new commercial operators in order to allow for the regularisation of the commercial operations; and steps to be taken by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) to register all PWC in the island.

He said that, upon registration, PWC operators will be issued registration certificates and decals. The decals, which will be provided in two different colour codes to distinguish between private and commercial craft, are expected to be available within a week.

The Government had previously introduced the six-month ban on the importation of jet skis for commercial purposes in October 2013 amid growing concerns about the number of accidents in Jamaica’s marine recreational areas, some of which have resulted in fatalities and serious injury.

“Given the urgency of the concerns at hand, and the impact on the tourism industry and livelihoods of many, the ministry and a new task force will actively proceed with the implementation of critical measures needed to streamline both private and commercial PWC operations across the island, as quickly as possible,” McNeill said.

Cabinet has also approved measures for the amendment of the Tourist Board Act (1955) to allow fines to be increased from the present maximum of $20,000 to $500,000 for breaches; and the amendment of the Tourist Board (Water Sports) Regulations (1985), to give the Crown the power to dispose of water sport vessels seized, and to prohibit a child under 17 years of age from operating commercial jet skis without an accompanying adult.

A task force has been formed to effect these changes, comprising representatives of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Customs, Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Tourist Board, MAJ, Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, National Environment and Planning Agency, Port Authority of Jamaica and the Tourism Product Development Company.

“Guided by the task force, the suspension on the operations will be lifted in each area as the relevant measures identified and regulations put in place are implemented and persons become compliant,” Dr McNeill said.