The post is a bit confusing. As stated in the 2nd link above, the facility where the 2-yr old died HAS been registered with JTB / TPDCo since 1965 and registration IS current. The police superintendent called it a 'death by misadventure' [MISADVEN'TURE, noun Mischance; misfortune; ill luck; an unlucky accident.] It is not one of the many unlicensed or never-licensed businesses that have abounded on the island for decades. However, it was really off the beaten track!
Last edited by Lola; 03-29-2016 at 05:55 AM.
Quote from the second article.Originally Posted by Lola
We had something similar happen here in park with someone walking on a path below. Branch feel and killed them. Total freak accident.The tragic freak accident was caused by a branch blown from a tree about 50 feet away, which has withstood a lifetime of hurricanes without any incidents. The branch fell on to the tree under which the family was camping. This resulted in the loss of a little boy's life, which is extremely distressing to us all. Our heartfelt sympathy is with his family.
Lola,
The property, at the time, was not JTB certified and licensed. The Gleaner fact checkers would not have missed such an obvious error as that. Here is a quote from the first article, please note the final paragraph:
"Where Whitfield Hall is concerned Hickey said records show that TPDCo has been writing to the operators for the past 16 years.
“I have a file dating back from 2000 where these people at different stages have been told to meet the requirements,” said Hickey.
“I see where they had gone in 2013 and got insurance, so it would seem to me that they are trying to get licensed. But you really should not operate contrary to the JTB Act if you don’t have it (a license).”
But proprietor of the property, John Allgrove has criticised TPDCo for constantly changing the requirements to get licensed.
“The TPDCo people will not accept the application form unless everything is in place and I don’t have control over all the things that are supposed to be in place,” argued Allgrove.
“The parish council people are supposed to do some, the fire brigade are supposed to do some, the police liaison people supposed to do something and then the health people supposed to give my people food handlers permits. To line up all of them at the same time has become an impossible issue,” added Allgrove.
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to ascertain if the tragedy that took place on the property last Saturday could have been avoided if all the requirements had been met."
In the second "article" which was a "letter to the editor" from the property. They were licensed by the JTB from 1965 to 1995, then TDPCo since 1996. In 2001 and since then, the certification changes as stricter requirements are made. One of the latest changes is that all properties must have security camera surveillance. The property in question had problems meeting these changing requirements since 2001 - they speak of it themselves. Here is a quote from their response. Once again read the final paragraph. They have admitted finally meeting all requirements, which will allow the license to be granted once inspected:
"4. From 1996 to 2000, we were able to easily satisfy the TPDCO requirements, but around 2001, they added some requirements, which included approval and certification of our security arrangements by the Police Liaison Office, which took several years to come.
5. Most of the inspecting/certifying organisations do not have four-wheel-drive vehicles, so we generally have to provide transportation from Hagley Gap or Mavis Bank.
6. The JTB will not issue a licence unless ALL requirements have been met at the time of the application and, given the various requirements from different organisations with start and finish dates, it has proven very difficult to achieve this. However, our licence fees are paid up in full until 2017.
7. We have now satisfied the requirements of all the agencies involved in the TPDCo licence process and conform thereto. Further, TPDCo conducts an annual inspection of the property."
Please note, just because you have paid the JTB, does not mean the license is issued. Only after the the TDPCo inspection will the license be granted.
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I think it is important to emphasis the words in the thread heading "off the beaten track"
Yes, I guess Miss Mary's and Miss Ruby's is sort of "off the beaten track" when talking about Negril but the place where the newspaper was referring to is WAY off the beaten track. Pictures of Negril in the "old days" does little to describe a place like Whitfield Hall or may other rural places where tourists infrequently venture.
In fact, if you had to stay at a JTB sanctioned place around where I live in Accompong Town you would probably end up sleeping in your car because there are only a scant few.
I don't know how many people here have ventured up to Mavis Bank, Whitfield Hall or Blue Mountain Peak but I would bet it is only a handful at best. Rural Jamaica is not necessarily the type of place that most travelers that visit this board want to stay but only go out on Day Trips to enjoy.
If I never would have started out visiting rural Jamaica and instead started by staying at Sandals then perhaps I would never have gotten so comfortable out on the island living in a Jamaican community. I had my share of misfortunes over the years having been robbed and pick-pocketed but never felt in danger staying at "off the beaten track" type of places but it is not for everyone. On that, I think we all can agree.
If you want to play it safer, stay in places where they are inspected, licensed and sanctioned so you at least have some legal recourse if something happens. I think this board is a valuable resource for casual travelers to Jamaica and that is the choir we are all preaching to. Always know your own limitations.
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