KINGSTON, Jamaica – Tourism sector ground transportation operators across Jamaica are expressing cautious optimism following a series of candid and constructive engagements with Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, and Minister of State in the ministry Delano Seiveright.

These discussions, held both publicly and behind closed doors, are being applauded by operators who believe their voices are finally being heard at the highest levels of government.

At a recent meeting convened at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Minister Seiveright and Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Deputy Executive Director, Lionel Myrie, led a comprehensive dialogue with some transport operators. The session surfaced a range of long-standing concerns affecting the sector, including prohibitively high parking costs at several large hotels, the unregulated entry of ride-share services like Uber into hotel spaces; and the persistent challenge of illegal operators who bypass licensing, insurance, and safety standards while unfairly competing with compliant providers.

Operators also voiced frustration over perceived corruption within their own ranks, which they argue is contributing to the marginalisation of dedicated, law-abiding members. These internal and external pressures, they say, are undermining the professionalism and economic sustainability of the sector at a time when Jamaica is welcoming record numbers of visitors.

“The continued and projected expansion of Jamaica’s tourism sector has created an environment of unprecedented opportunity, but with that growth has also come increasing complexity. The surge in visitor arrivals, major hotel developments, and new airlift connections have placed additional strain on support services like ground transportation,” Seiveright noted.

“This has underscored the urgent need for adaptability, stronger institutional frameworks, and capacity building within the sector to ensure that operators are equipped to meet the evolving demands of a modern tourism ecosystem,” he added.

Astley Shakes, an operator who has served the sector for 56 years, voiced deep concerns.

“We are calling on the government to do something to protect us or else we have to resort to civil disobedience, and we don’t want that,” he said. “We want a share of the pie because we invest, we pay taxes, we pay statutory deductions and all of these things from our organisation.”

In response, Seiveright noted that Bartlett will speak on the matter comprehensively in the upcoming Sectoral debate following a series of discussions here and overseas with stakeholders.

Vernal Bedward, another veteran in the sector, offered praise for the government’s intervention while calling for greater partnership.

“I want to say thanks also to Minister Seiveright and his team for having seen the need for government intervention in addressing the unethical unfair practices which are negatively impacting the local ground transportation providers of JUTA, JACAL, and MAXI,” Bedward said. “We need more cooperation among the hotel sector and the ground transportation sector. We are optimistic that what has been started will bring forth some semblance of balance and for a mutually beneficial environment to be created. We are not here to fight because there is enough for everybody. We do not want to disenfranchise anybody.”