MONTEGO BAY, St James — Montego Bay’s Hip Strip is expected to get a security boost as the police and tourism stakeholders work out an arrangement to have off-duty cops patrol the area on its busiest days.

Tourism players are now exploring how it will be funded.

The initiative was mentioned by officer in charge of operations in the St James Police Sivision Deputy Superintendent Lynroy Edwards during a presentation at the recent council meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation.

As DSP Edwards explained, the push is a partnership between the police and businesses on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, which is often referred to as the Hip Strip.

“We introduced a plan and stakeholders have bought into the plan to have — from Thursday right through until Sunday… — we intend to police it with our off-duty police officers,” he told councillors.

He said the move came out of a request for the police’s help to ensure that those who visit the popular stretch in the western resort are able to safely enjoy its amenities.

“Over time, we should see a safer Hip Strip all the way down to Pier One to Dead End and to prevent the harassment and the other offences that come with those persons who have ill intent,” promised Edwards.

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Robin Russell has welcomed the initiative which he believes will make the area safer for both locals and visitors. He said the long-term plan is to make other improvements to the Hip Strip but this initial step will address “night activities that are not properly managed, causing traffic and just a lot of anarchy on this road”.

According to Russell, while the talks are far advanced, they are still looking at how to fund the initiative.

“We’ve had initial meetings, looking at the costs. We’ve approached the TEF [Tourism Enhancement Fund], we’ve approached people on the Strip itself to see how best we can make it happen,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The Hip Strip is one of the most popular tourist/entertainment spots in Montego Bay. Amenities on the roughly four-kilometre stretch include hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping and various other entertainment options.

“The Hip Strip is the epicentre of tourism in Montego Bay and Montego Bay is the heart of tourism in Jamaica,” stressed the JHTA’s Russell.

“We want to see where persons see opportunities on the Hip Strip and are able to come out, open their businesses later, [offer] sidewalk vending, etcetera, to make the product better,” he said.

He believes it is important to ensure that smaller players also reap the reward from Jamaica’s tourism sector.

“It’s not about just about the vendors on the Hip Strip making money but vendors anywhere who would like to be involved in tourism to see what it looks like,” Russell remarked.

“[It’s about] having a better environment for the pan chicken man down the street, inviting vendors who might sell craft, artists, musicians to now populate the Strip in the evenings because it’s more attractive,” he explained.

Russell manages Deja Resort, which is among the properties on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard. He sees great potential in the area, and thinks it can be replicated.

“What we are trying to do is use the strip as an example of what other resort towns should do and can do to create a proper entertainment zone, get the people out of the hotels and really have an environment for commerce,” he said.

“That’s what we are trying to do, make it more attractive to visitors and locals who want to come and enjoy themselves [and do business],” Russell added.