Negril needs your opinion...

[Mike_D]

I, for one, am in favor of less regulation rather than more. Which is why Jamaica appeals to more than US or British governed Caribbean islands. I think Negril should enforce the rules they have, rather than impose new ones.

[negrilsand]

Well said wbegonne!

[JamaGinger]

I would like to respond to a few points that have been mentioned in several comments.

The competition for Caribbean tourism is becoming more threatening to Jamaica. As someone else noted, the opening of Cuba to U.S. citizens is a serious issue, if only because Cuba is even closer to the U.S. Also, marijuana is being decriminalized throughout the Caribbean and, for better or worse, this challenges one of Jamaica's traditional selling points.

The question is how Jamaica should respond, especially with regard to Negril. I read several comments to the effect that "change and growth are inevtiable." That conflates two separate issues. Change and growth are not synonyms. Everything changes, but not everything grows. When it comes to Negril, yes, change is inevitable there too. Things fall apart, people die, new trees grow, new devices are created. These things happen whether we like it or not. Growth, however, is a choice. Whether Negril "grows" -- as in adding new buildings or taller buildings -- is up to the Jamaican people.

Which brings me to my real point. If I were in charge of Jamaican tourism and considering Negril's future, I would look at what is unique about Jamaica and Negril and I would market that unique identity. For instance, Jamaica has a fabulous musical culture (as does Jamaica's new competitor, Cuba). Jamaica has Rastafarians, who bring world-famous sativa marijuana and organic vegetarian food to the table. Negril has astonishing natural beauty, a fabulously long, protected beach and breathtaking cliffs just a mile away. Negril has a low-key, small-scale charm that is increasingly rare and treasured in this overdeveloped, overgrown, overcrowded world. A lot of people want exactly that on vacation.

In my opinion, if Jamaica succumbs to the lure of quick "growth" it will destroy Negril, both as a tourist destination and literally through reckless overbuilding, further depletion of the essential morrass, further polluting the Negril River (and then the sea), overburdening the already weak infrastructure, and basically ruining what makes Negril so attractive in the first place.

Peace.

Exactly on point and well-said!

[Rob]

Before the comments get further off topic, here is my original post:

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"We have been asked by the stakeholders here in Negril what is the viewpoint of you, our visitors to Negril about the upcoming changes to our building guidelines as discussed in this commentary article in the Gleaner by Diana McCaulay. She is the CEO of the Jamaica Environmental Trust.

Here is the link to her commentary article:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/c...d-towers-babel

The main area where the stakeholders are concerned about are her comments "I skimmed the new development order. Many of the same provisions are repeated, some verbatim, as if the manifest planning and environmental management failures of the past 30 years have not occurred. Setback limits are reduced, depending on the slope and character of the land, as if sea level rise is merely a rumour. Figure 1 in Appendix 17 seems to suggest that a 10-storey hotel could now be allowed in Negril."

Before responding, please read her comments in full and let us know how you feel. Growth is inevitable for Negril, it will become an actual town in the future (it is currently still a village) and the stakeholders would like to get your feedback on some of the points that Diana brings up in her commentary.

Thank you for your help in this matter."

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Predictions, speculation and rumor are just that, a "best guess" (prediction), "guess" (speculation) or "something unfounded" (rumor).

While we do seek the opinions and viewpoints from our visitors about the amendments to the current building guidelines for the Negril and Green Island Area, making predictions about the social and economic "future" of Negril and Jamaica based on foreign investment (or worse, the lack thereof) is a bit beyond the original question that started this thread.

We can debate all day merits of the Goat island Hub, the Highway 2000 project, the fact the airport in MoBay was expanded for Russian visitors who can no longer afford to come and other such topics. But that is not why the original question was posed.

Jamaica and Negril have been having visitors from all over the world for the past 100 years. Languages such as Italian, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese and Chinese have been taught on the island for years. This is nothing new. Foreign investment has been going strong since 1962. These are simple facts.

But the above topics pose no real help in knowing the viewpoints of our visitors about the amendments to the current building guidelines for the development order for the Negril and Green Island Area. And for clarification, the Grand Lido 10 story proposal has been asked for by their Canadian investors.

Thank you for remaining on topic.

[JamaGinger]

Rob, I don't think we completely understand what you want us to comment on. Is the question whether what was in the original document should be left alone and enforced? And whether changes to it should be allowed?

If these are the questions, my viewpoint is "no". Leave it as it was originally written and reinforce what was there.

Short and simple.

[Scott Rice]

One of the charms of Negril and the reason I cant go anywhere else to vacation is that it is UNIQUE and DIFFERENT..and most importantly, the chilled, relaxed beach attitude.. overdevelopment will take that away.... save the beach and the village atmosphere.... I would be crushed to see it become another face in the crowd resort town....

[NRV]

"No" to amending the building guidelines in the Negril and Green Island Area. No special exceptions for any current or future developer.

[noproblem]

Just say no! Improvement is a good thing but redevelopment and taller buildings will destroy Negrils charm.

[negrilsand]

No high rise please! Simple enough?

[onthecorner]

if you open the door and allow the change the building codes ...what next? I agree with you rob in that negril will eventually go from village to town, and thats probally not a bad thing......but town to city? Imagine walking to the beach and you look left towards the cliffs and 5 story building catches your eye....or look right and theres 10 story building past rutland point. i would never suggest holding back progress and the jobs and improved infastructure it brings but if progress is not controlled the only thing you may be left with is a 10 story abandoned eyesore. What about the water issues? What about sewage issues? What about traffic issues? What about supply issues? Progress needs to be contolled. Allow changes but going from the current building codes to high rise is a hella of a leap. perhaps a middle ground can be found somewhere, one addresses the concerns of both parties. with much respect, onthecorner