WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The Negril Chamber of Commerce has expressed a level of dissatisfaction with the implementation of projects in the resort town of Negril by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

“I feel… with due respect to the Tourism Enhancement Fund, that those who are administering it and controlling that fund have not really looked as seriously as it should in terms of implementing these projects,” stated Lee Issa, President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce.

The president during a press conference held at the Couples Swept Away resort in Negril on Tuesday argued that the resort town, which is in need of infrastructure work and beautification, has been allowed to slowly deteriorate over the years.

While not naming the outstanding projects on the books for more than six years, the Negril chamber president pointed to the need for a new sewage treatment plant for the town that is capable of treating sewage up to tertiary level. He said the current system, which is not able to manage the capacity of the town can only treat sewage up to the secondary level.

Issa, who operates two hotels in Negril under the Couples Resorts brand, also pointed to a serious water problem affecting Negril and its environs. He added that with some 1000 hotel rooms slated to come on stream shortly, the situation will get worst as currently, the problem persists in and out of drought seasons.

With the TEF disappointing the Negril folks, Issa is arguing that the matter is further compounded by talks of moving TEF funds to the central government coffers.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw had announced the measures during his budget presentation in Parliament on March 9.

“And now to add insult to injury, the government is about to move these funds from tourism to the consolidated fund instead of encouraging those who run the fund to get these projects started that have been sitting on the books now for several years,” suggested Issa, who added that this is” so that we can have a resort community that we are all proud of. We are not proud of Negril as it currently is. It is clearly becoming a ghetto because of neglect.”

The parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland are sharing Negril, with the well-known and larger hotels located in Hanover and the township located in Westmoreland.

Anthony Lewis