Highway to St Thomas could help develop Cow Bay
Dear Editor,
The scaling down of the proposed highway to Port Antonio is a grave error on the part of the Government. Without saying so specifically, the Government perceives that Jamaica cannot afford to build such a highway as there will be very little traffic to make such a venture profitable. This, however, is an investment in development, just as the road through Negril swamp was in the 1950s, or the development of Ocho Rios was in the 1960s.
Along with the possibilities of housing and other smaller development, it was suggested or envisioned by the former Government that Cow Bay, near Albion in St Thomas, be developed as a bulk cargo port. Cow Bay is reputed to have the deepest harbour in the western world. The western world includes all the lands adjacent to the north and south Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean and the northern shores of Europe. Cow Bay is really another unexploited natural resource in Jamaica sitting idle. Bulk cargo shipping is over 70 per cent of the world maritime trade. But absolutely none of that comes to Jamaica as our present developed harbours/ports cannot accommodate these large ships. A developed Cow Bay could accommodate these ships. Other countries can build such a harbour by digging to the required depth, but Cow Bays depth is natural and even deeper than required by these bulk cargo ships.
If we still dream of Jamaica becoming a world trans-shipment hub, then Cow Bay is the ideal port for bulk cargo ships. However, it makes no sense to develop Cow Bay if we don’t have a modern roadway to support the bulk cargo industry. The Highway to Portland should be the start of the development of bulk cargo shipping in Jamaica. Every aspect of this venture is providing jobs for Jamaicans. This area of St Thomas and the adjoining parishes would benefit directly from that type of shipping. It would also help to boost Jamaica’s image to that of a real trans-shipment hub and a maritime nation. This would solve the Government’s perception that the highway to Portland is not profitable. Government must consider returning to the original plan.
Louis Barton
Naggo Head, St Catherine
louisabarton@gmail.com
