We in this space are fully aware that during a general election year it is practically impossible to bring competing political parties together to celebrate even the most iconic national event, such as the 70th anniversary of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

If ever there were an event that ought to have commanded the highest level of bipartisan support it is the marking of the JTB’s 70th year of existence, for nothing more than its enduring contribution to the development of this God-blessed island.

For seven decades — before political Independence in 1962 — the JTB has been at the helm of promoting the island as a premier warm weather destination, selling dreams of an alluring island and people, and doing so in the most non-partisan manner.

The year-long celebrations kicked off on April 1 this year with some significant events that are worthy of such an institution. We are particularly pleased with the decision to appoint Mr Usain Bolt as global ambassador of Jamaica’s tourism.

But we humbly suggest that what is missing so far is any sign of the deep national engagement that would come from the joint mobilisation of the people by the Government and the Opposition and their related political parties.

This is not to cast blame on anyone. We do not know to the fullest extent what level of invitation the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government has made to the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to participate in the various activities — local and international — or the response to such invitation by the party.

At the same time, we fully understand that there might not be any appetite on either side for toning down party rhetoric and appearing to be quite buddy-buddy with someone who is being lambasted from the political campaign. Perhaps for the JTB, celebrating the 70th anniversary was impossible to resist.

Yet, Jamaicans from every walk of life should be extolling the virtue of the JTB for its role in building a tourism industry that has become the lifeline of this country and without which it is almost impossible to imagine where we would be at this time.

The importance of the JTB to our country could easily be measured just by the fact that the number of visitors has moved from 100,000 in 1955 when the board was established to a gigantic 4.3 million last year, now expected to jump to five million this year.

One especially remembers the drought of foreign exchange during the 1970s when ordinary Jamaicans travelling abroad were restricted to US$20 and when businesses were scrounging to get dollars, leading to a flourishing black market in US currency. Today tourism is our number one foreign exchange earner.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett might have been intoxicated by the success of the JTB that he was driven to describe it as “the greatest tourist board on Earth”. We find ourself agreeing with him.

This is also a time to recognise the contribution of our people in making the tourism industry into the enthralling magnet and bread basket that it has evolved. And to do so, Mr Bartlett has promised to build “a tourism ecosystem where every worker — from housekeepers to hotel managers, tour guides to transportation providers — has the tools, training, and opportunities to thrive”.

Happy anniversary and congratulations, Jamaica Tourist Board!