ST JAMES, Jamaica – The Montego Bay Convention Centre continues to rack up losses with no roadmap for long-term marketing to bring business to the venue, which cost the Government US$51.7 million to build in 2007, under a loan agreement with the China Import Export Bank.

Desmond Malcolm, general manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) which has oversight for the centre, told the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) a short while ago, that the anticipated support from various tourism agencies has not been forthcoming. He said that the UDC needs support of at least $30 million per month.

Permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Onika Miller, pointed out that the profit and loss situation at the centre has somewhat improved over the past four years, but Government member Mikhail Phillips said, notwithstanding that, it is taking far too long for the centre to climb out of loss mode.

He noted that while convention centres around the world do not generally turn profits, they are expected to at least reduce losses as much as is possible.

“Delay is money, and we are seeing the effects of that now,” he stated. Phillips further argued that a medium- to long-term plan must be made now to enable the centre to reduce losses.

“The UDC has ended up in a marriage that it never wanted. The arrangements for the centre were poorly managed and the expected results are not being reaped,” member Fitz Jackson stated. He insisted that the centre needs a dedicated revenue source, which can properly manage its marketing.

Alphea Saunders