The Many Positives of Negril

One cannot fully describe the Natural beauty of Negril. Its powdery white sand beaches fringed by lush tropical trees and vegetation. Its variety of hotels/villas and accommodations hidden amongst the foliage and not sticking out as Concrete Towers! The breathtaking Cliffs with its numerous Coves and Caves. The magic of Long Bay Beach, our acknowledge highway, where people meet, walk, jog or take a dip in the sea or share a drink at the many open air bars. The amazing luminosity of the blue water, the green foliage, the sky, the sand…and even the air which palpitates around you! Negril is still the place where you can meet the incomparable Jamaican, who is friendly, welcoming and dignified, who is eager to exchange talks on life, politics or simple tall stories.

So many of the persons employed in the Tourism Industry are our daily Public Relation Officers, giving proper service, being genuine and not being servile, so that we can all stand up with pride. Thousands of repeat guests, most of whom have traveled the world, are full of praises for the warmth and genuiness of staff in general.

Yes, as usual there are also the servile, the greedy and downright hustlers, which by the way exist anywhere else in the world, but I maintain that Negril is still a very special place! We have over many years benefited from the voluntary, unselfish commitments to our Negril Community of real leaders, persons who have no axes to grind, have no kickback to receive, but whose sole dedication is to see a better community for all.

Amongst our leaders are men and women from all walks of life, including foreign residents, many repeat guests, returning citizens, school’s principals, hotel owners. They all work tirelessly to improve both the physical and social environment of our Negril Community.

They are the ones that counts, that are genuine role models that have opened the vista of a better society and better goals to achieve for our community. Negril, with its relatively small number of permanent residents is indeed very blessed to have so many unselfish, independent number of persons, dedicated to its welfare.

As this first year of this new decennary is coming to a close I call on everyone to renew their energy and go forward, as so much still needs to be done!!!

Mrs. Sylvie Grizzle