TREASURE BEACH, St Elizabeth — Tourism stakeholders in Treasure Beach on Jamaica’s south coast are demanding urgent repairs to the main road linking the area to Montego Bay via eastern Hanover and southern St James, warning that its deplorable condition is already driving a spate of booking cancellations ahead of the crucial winter tourist season, which runs from mid-December to April.

The section of the main road badly scarred with potholes stretches from the Westmoreland/Hanover border through Ramble to Anchovy in St James.

Well-known hoteliers Jason Henzell and David Folb, as well as Transport Manager Darin James last Wednesday expressed frustration over the deplorable road.

Henzell, who operates highly acclaimed Jakes Hotel and Jack Sprat with 125 staff in Treasure Beach, said the situation is dire.

“We have had to refund many guests based on the fact that our website is saying it takes between two to two and a half hours from Montego Bay and, in some cases now, it is taking three to three and a half hours,” Henzell told the Jamaica Observer.

Darin James, transportation manager at Jakes Hotel and Lashings Boutique Hotel, suggested that the road be patched until a permanent fix can be done.

“It has been very costly to us. Guests who have written about the conditions of the road also deter potential guests from coming, so it has been an extremely costly situation for not only Jakes, but all of the operators along the south coast,” added Henzell.

Folb, owner of the popular high-value Lashings Boutique Hotel and Villas and Lashings Beach Club in Treasure Beach with 10 full-time staff and more than 20 linked leased businesses, shared a similar sentiment.

“The [bad] roads are causing a monumental problem. People don’t want to come. I literally spoke to a friend of mine today who is thinking about coming here in a group of six people for Christmas and they said oh, we have spoken to such and such, ‘if the roads are going to be that bad then we will go to Barbados’,” Folb told the Sunday Observer.

“It is affecting our business drastically. There are actually people who are cancelling, because of the roads… There was a famous cricketer a few weeks ago who had to leave very early because he didn’t want to chance going back on those roads on the day of his flight,” added Folb.

James, the transportation manager at Jakes hotel and Lashings Boutique Hotel, suggested that the road be patched until a permanent fix can be done.

“That road, especially out from Ramble to Montpelier, is a total disgrace. The road has been like that for almost three years. Even if they have plans to do a major reconstruction of the road, just patch the areas until then. These potholes are so wide and deep. I have the biggest vehicle in our fleet and I don’t want to drive through that bad road,” he said.

FOLB… the roads are causing a monumental problem. People don’t want to come

He said utilising Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston is not a viable option as that is more costly.

“It is more expensive to travel from Kingston to Treasure Beach than from Montego Bay, even though it might be quicker, but it is twice the distance in mileage, so you are burning more gas and paying tolls. With my class three vehicle, to and from Kingston with four tolls, is over $12,000,” said James.

The effect the bad road is having on the tourism industry was also highlighted by reports that last week visitors travelling to Negril from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay had to endure a six-hour bus ride.

Last week, Opposition Member of Parliament for St James Southern Nekeisha Burchell, in whose constituency the Anchovy main road is located, posted on her Instagram account that drain cleaning and preparation for asphalt laying commenced there on Tuesday.

“After more than a year of representations work has finally begun on Anchovy main road. I’m grateful to the [National Works Agency] and contractors for getting started, and to the residents who stopped to share their appreciation. I understand the frustration with the traffic; I use this road too. Crews will continue clearing drains and preparing the road for asphalt over the coming weeks, so please take care around them. I’ll keep following up and sharing updates,” the post read.

Motorists travelling on the deplorable Shettlewood to Anchovy main Road last Friday. Photo: Garfield Robinson

On Thursday the National Works Agency said temporary repairs are being done to the corridors pending a major project to repair critical sections of the main roads now in the procurement phase.

Henzell said he is eagerly awaiting further updates regarding the completion date for the now under-construction Long Hill bypass, which is to be connected to the Montego Bay Perimeter Road.

“I have been trying to get onto people about the Montego Bay bypass, which apparently is going to open shortly, I don’t know if the bypass includes the exit to the south coast road,” he said.

“I am pleased that there was a meeting at Pier One and there seems to be some movement and solutions happening for Negril, but as it pertains to the south coast now, I really am interested when the ramp to the Long Hill bypass will be activated,” added Henzell.

The perimeter road is slated for completion in December. The perimeter road is complemented by the Long Hill Bypass, a 10.5-kilometre corridor upgraded from its original two lanes to four lanes with Jersey barriers. The Long Hill Bypass is slated for completion in 2027.