KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett joined other officials in St Ann yesterday, for a ground-breaking ceremony at Salem Beach. The beach is being upgraded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to the tune of $26 million, under their National Beach Development Programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bartlett stated that there must be a guarantee that locals have access to and are able to enjoy their country’s natural resources, including the island’s best beaches”.

He added that the upgrading of Salem Beach will provide yet another premium recreational beach for the enjoyment of both our local and international visitors.

The upgrades to the beach include the construction of two gazebos, restrooms, a wash-off stand, parking facilities, landscaping works, upgrades to the sewage treatment system, and the demolition and alterations to existing structures.

Construction will be completed within the next four months, and the end-product will be a beach transformed into a quality recreational area with facilities and services that meet the best international standards.

“There is little doubt that this wonderful beach is one of Salem’s main attractions. By strengthening Salem Beach as a destination, we will help to improve the town’s tourism economy, diversify its offerings and thereby enhance its economic competitiveness,” Bartlett said.

Balford Henry