Say No to Jet Skis - Please let your voice be heard

[Westenders]

Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that's different to feeling entitled to action, especially when this is a complex issue affecting Jamaicans right to operate businesses.

Of course as I said before, if you don't like it then we are all entitled and free to go somewhere else.

What about the new proposals is more preferable to a ban? Let the powers that be assess and come up with a plan.

Just as a point of interest, how many people were calling for a total ban when the two little Jamaican girls were killed last year? This process should have started then.

TBH I have never been hassled by the jet ski guys. We are not entitled to a silent beach either, and if that's what I felt was a priority then I'd go somewhere different to negril.
The safety aspect is the issue I feel is important, and this will form part of the new measures.
Jet ski's are everywhere in European holiday destinations, as well as motorised water ski, parasailing, etc. the difference is they are placed away from swimmers and clearly marked, similar to what is being proposed.

Jaherring makes two very good points also.

Some Tourists do a lot of risk taking in negril. The amount of people getting high on stuff bought from complete strangers freaks me out more. A lot of these are middle aged and older, so kinda not role models for the younger ones getting high and jumping on the jet skis, although i don't think for one minute that everyone on them is high!

The Jamaican government does spend on infrastructure but it does not have the capital to make the improvements that are comparable in our countries. Our tourist money is important to Jamaica but not the primary income source.
Let's not be arrogant about the power of our spending.

I totally agree that Gail had every right as a Jamaican resident and business woman to encourage people to have a voice. It is the some of the comments that followed that are a little much.
My point earlier is that we can have opinions and debate is always good, but as tourists we should not feel so almighty powerful. Let's just be genuine as some have been and post an opinion, rather than make remarks that stigmatise Jamaican people.

[Bluez]

* That horrible gasoline smell*??....lol. lawd have mercy. What do all tose vehicles that zip up and down the road run on electricity? Maybe electric powered jet skis is the answer :::::: quieter, no smell. There is nothing wrong with regulations and having an area for jet skis, but an all out ban is just silly.
I hope they are back in the water soon. I want to feel the cool sea spray as I zip along 7 mile.

I guess you have never been in the water with a jet ski about 10 feet away? When they're that close Jaherring that's the case you can def smell the gasoline

[jamaicarob]

it was so nice and quiet w/o the jetskies from feb, soon come

[Fred Stripe]

Just as a point of interest, how many people were calling for a total ban when the two little Jamaican girls were killed last year? This process should have started then.

Westenders,,gee,I'm confused,you refer to the death of the girls and now more deaths and yet you try to squelch any protest?

You actually make the ban case stronger.

[Jaherring]

I love the smell of petro, burning rubber, big block v8 tearing it up...etc etc. And with all the other noises, is a likkle jet ski really that bad?? soon come.

[Westenders]

Hi Fred
With respect I can see why you would say that, but I don't agree. That would be like saying we should ban cars because of all the road deaths.

I just think that with a well managed plan jet skis and tourism can work. Not all tourists hate them, as I said before otherwise there would be no demand.

With education, rules / policy, enforcement and designated areas we could all co exist and the Jamaican businesses operators can once again benefit from tourist spending. Otherwise why should they want us in their back yard?

I'm not trying to squelch any protest either, I just have a different view.

In the Jamaican operators shoes, if tourists in my city were trying to change or ban things that affected my livelihood I wouldn't be having none of it, and probably neither would most

[sandman66]

Lots of issues wrapped up in this thread

1, jet ski's are all over the world, why should a total ban be in place in Negril? The most logical option is what is in progress now. Total ban until a feasible, safe plan can be implemented for everyone, with controls that mean tourists who love jet skis can participate, and Jamaican businesses can operate.

2. Tourism is about business in any country, so why shouldn't the Jamaican businesses this directly affects have the right to develop new, safer business plans to protect their own livelihood .

3. Where else in the world are jet ski's totally banned?

4. Tourists have a right to an opinion, sure, this is a free world, but let's not get too crazy. We have no right to expect Jamaica to do anything because we take our holidays there. Of the millions of tourists quoted, it is accurate to say that not all tourists would agree with a total ban, or the jet ski guys would not have been making money all this time. Someone stated that people who enjoy them are in the minority. There is no evidence to support that statement. More accurately it is the minority viewpoint on this board.

5. I disagree with the viewpoint that the US distributes it's wealth to poorer states. I see no evidence of this policy. The US has many areas of depravation, as do all countries. Does Florida spread it's wealth from tourism across the states ???Jamaica benefits from tourism through tax and, increased employment in resort areas. Our tourist spending does not and should not give us any rights to dictate policy in JA. It's a little bit arrogant to think like that IMO.
Tourism is important to Jamaica, but as tourists we don,t all have the same viewpoint , so if you don't like something our only real power is to vote with your feet and go somewhere else.

6. I have never liked the closeness of the jet ski's but in terms of noise, I never found this to be a hassle. It is not constant and the pockets of loud music, talking and laughter on the beach all make it a vibrant place. It looks to me that the viewpoints might be age related.

7. To love something you have to take the good and not so good. Negril, and this board obviously have plenty of repeat visitors, but the not so good stuff is not pertinent to Negril or Jamaica only, and we should keep perspective on that.
Many of the issues are much, much worse in our own countries, do you try to influence change there??

This is probably one of the best posts I have ever read on this site.

[ESparks451]

Here here!

[Fred Stripe]

Yes cars are bad also but 90% of folks need cars as opposed to what 5% of tourist who need jet skis?

[Westenders]

I don't believe any one needs a car, life is just easier having one. Where did you pluck the 5% from? No one needs to go to negril either, the world is full of amazing places, some of which don't have jet skis.

This is not an issue to be so entrenched in, there are many options. I personally prefer to be open minded.

I think ill bow out of this now, fortunately the matter is being reviewed by a number of agencies, so hopefully they will present a plan that is a halfway point for all.

Big up democracy.