NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Tourism officials say the newly established Destination Assurance Council is designed not to be a political talk shop, but a technical framework on which to take charge and ensure a quality destination.

“So we are going to move away from the traditional position where this is a (political) talk shop into a technical framework. Because everybody who is on it, by and large, is competent in one area or another for the delivery of the key outcomes,” stated Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, who was supported by the Negril newly selected chairperson, Elaine Allen Bradley.

Bartlett and Allen Bradley were responding to questions raised by the Jamaica Observer on Thursday in Negril following the first of six DAC meetings to be held across the island.

The inaugural Negril meeting was held at the Couples Swept Away resort.

The Sunday Observer had asked for clarification in respect of the difference between the DAC and the then Resort Boards (RB).

There are currently six DACs which encompass the resort areas of Kingston and south coast (to St Elizabeth), Portland and St Thomas, St Ann and St Mary, Falmouth, Montego Bay and Negril (Hanover and Westmoreland).

The DAC has replaced what used to be the resort boards.

Bartlett told the meeting that his role as minister is not to drive the DACs, but to allow the DACs space to work in addressing issues pertaining to them.

“My role for you then is not even to drive you, although I would like to do that. My role is to give you space to drive yourself, because I want you to own the destination. I want you to own the resort. It is your resort, and what we are to do from Government is to give you the opportunity to really take control and to give us the quality destination that we require,” stated Bartlett during his address.

Bartlett further explained the role and purpose of the DAC.

“The Destination Assurance Council is not just about looking at the look and feel of the destination, but it is about the reputation of the destination and it is involving all the key governance players who have a role to play in ensuring that the destination remains pristine, clean, clear and safe. And a key component of the DAC will be safety and security,” stated Bartlett.

“Another key difference is that we are establishing an institutional framework which will enable access and information flow. So we are gonna have destination managers located here in Negril with an office, which is a one-stop office for all those involved in tourism delivery services — the hotels, attractions and entertainers,” explained Bartlett.

“We are going to secure certification and licensing, because that is how we can manage and we can determine outcomes,” added Bartlett.

Allen Bradley said that the people of Hanover and Westmoreland will be involved.

“We have to get them involved because if they are not involved, they will not feel a part of it. And that is the greatest task for us: it is to educate and convince the people that they must take ownership of it. And if they do that they will protect it. Our work will be easy if we get the people to buy into what’s for them and their children, and we are trying to provide and facilitate that,” argued Allen Bradley.

The Negril DAC is made up of key individuals, among them the Mayor of Savanna-la-mar, Bertel Moore and the Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels, representatives of the health department in Hanover and Westmoreland, the National Water Commission, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, and the National Environment and Planning Agency, as well as all agencies needed to secure the integrity of the destination.

The DAC will report directly to the Tourism Product Development Company.

It is similar in make-up to the other five resort DACs.