Why do Jamaicans think Americans always need something?

[Rob]

Rob....let me be the first? to observe that you all too frequently rush to defense of anything Negril, when you should try understand both sides. I realize that you have a need to be a mouthpiece for the Chamber...but the originator of this thread was making some very legitimate points...to which, unfortunately, there is no solution. Many visitors,, even the seasoned Negrilite, often becomes frustrated with the over the top higgling.......

Over the years, not much progress has been made in 1) educating the local population as to what is and is not in their best interests, and 2) on a much broader scale, dealing with the inappropriate harrassment....

Ed,

Being born American and living my first 31+ years in America and subsequently living for the last 20 years or so in Jamaica puts me in a very unique position to clearly see both sides of this issue. I understand this far better than you may assume. My comments to the original poster were derived precisely from being able to clearly see both of these sides.

My comments were my own and only my own - not dictated by anyone or anything other than the desire to help others to understand what their frustration may be preventing them from understanding. I am not in the employ nor take direction from the Negril Chamber of Commerce. Your speculation that I need to be a mouthpiece for the Chamber is incorrect. You are mistaken. The Negril Chamber is fully able to speak for themselves on this forum, and have done so in the past.

While you may feel that there has not been much progress, I feel that you are misinformed about this as well. You must not be aware of the local school programs for the primary and secondary students to educate students about tourism and how it impacts their future and the Jamaican as well as Caribbean economy. You must also be unaware of the JTB tourism education classes required for tourism permit holders. Add in the fact that the highly visible "Courtesy Corp" now patrol the resort areas with uniformed police allows anyone who is informed to see that the Jamaican government is knowingly working on the inappropriate tourist harassment.

Is there still room for improvement in the harassment issue? Of course there is. But although you may personally be frustrated, there is no need to post your incorrect speculations as fact. Being frustrated is no excuse to throw the truth as well as common sense out the window...

Rob,
I'm going to cancel my next two trips unless you can guarantee me that before I arrive that you have reached out to and trained every single higgler in Negril on how to interact with all visitors. Can you make this happen? I need to know as I do not want to lose my deposits.

Oh, and how can I forget the need for sidewalks on the West End. I know with the relationships that you have built over the last 20 years that you can make this happen. Problem is, around 5 PM or so I have simply partake'd way too much and I become a hazard while walking the road to all motorist whom are driving.

Oh, can you get someone to deal with the Lionfish. A lot of us out there are deathly afraid of these little buggers and we need to wipe them out quickly. Maybe a daily fish fry where it's buy one lion fish get one free?

And one last thing, stop defending Negril. If it wasn't for guys like you I would have never come. And now that I have found it and love it I do not want anyone to book my favorite rooms when I want to use them.

Booger,

I will get right on that.... (grin)

[ed kennedy]

despite the programs that you cite, and the "policemen" that you count, it is clear that the aggressiveness has increased rather than decreased......

Ed,

Being born American and living my first 31+ years in America and subsequently living for the last 20 years or so in Jamaica puts me in a very unique position to clearly see both sides of this issue. I understand this far better than you may assume. My comments to the original poster were derived precisely from being able to clearly see both of these sides.

My comments were my own and only my own - not dictated by anyone or anything other than the desire to help others to understand what their frustration may be preventing them from understanding. I am not in the employ nor take direction from the Negril Chamber of Commerce. Your speculation that I need to be a mouthpiece for the Chamber is incorrect. You are mistaken. The Negril Chamber is fully able to speak for themselves on this forum, and have done so in the past.

While you may feel that there has not been much progress, I feel that you are misinformed about this as well. You must not be aware of the local school programs for the primary and secondary students to educate students about tourism and how it impacts their future and the Jamaican as well as Caribbean economy. You must also be unaware of the JTB tourism education classes required for tourism permit holders. Add in the fact that the highly visible "Courtesy Corp" now patrol the resort areas with uniformed police allows anyone who is informed to see that the Jamaican government is knowingly working on the inappropriate tourist harassment.

Is there still room for improvement in the harassment issue? Of course there is. But although you may personally be frustrated, there is no need to post your incorrect speculations as fact. Being frustrated is no excuse to throw the truth as well as common sense out the window...



Booger,

I will get right on that.... (grin)

[spottycatz]

despite the programs that you cite, and the "policemen" that you count, it is clear that the aggressiveness has increased rather than decreased......

Sorry Ed, but you 'appear' to be in a vocal minority, and thats OK, because that's what boards like these are for, but I've never had the problems you've encountered, so I can't relate. The PEOPLE who work the beach are making a living the best they can and the best they are allowed to do. They provide a service that you personally don't want, but there are others of us that go and have gone to Negril regularly and for a long time, that do talk, buy from and enjoy their company. Personally, the beach would be a poorer place without the vendors. I would rather have them on the sand than the hoards of coloured plastic wristband striders, that march stoically ahead untill they get back to their place of 'safety'! Just sayin'.