Quote Originally Posted by Borntobeach View Post
We first went to a very poor area where there was a very small bar/store and a lot of children begging....then onto Lenbert's beautiful, newly built house, where his shinny BMW was in the driveway. All 60 to 70 people on the two busses this one day bought a rum punch from his private, newly built bar.....
The icing on the cake was at the end of the "tour" Lenbert came on our bus (different bus driver)....trying to make sure he was heard by yelling Tourist....Tourist .....very loudly...asking for 'tips'...One person said they wanted to tip the bus driver directly...where he replied tip me first...
This will be our last trip on the One 'LOVE' bus.
I have known Lenbert for a very long time and when I stay in Negril, I stay close to his "yard". I think you have to admit, you wrote this very sharply critical of Lenbert's business and impugned his motives (which you have a right to do) but I have seen him struggle for a long time to try to please both the tourists and the establishments that want to benefit from his using them in his business.

When the business started, he only had a handful of riders and a wide choice of places to stop because everyone wanted the business. Lenbert is a very good-hearted guy and he tries to please everyone so when he added new stops, he had to drop some of the others which angered a few owners. When he would go to small, out of the way places the word would spread and curious kids would show up. Some people are too free with their money and the kids didn't even have to ask and they got some money. More kids show up when they hear about the "free money" and now the pushier ones started asking and some even demanding. Now Lenbert has a problem with the riders complaining about the beggers.

By building at his own property, he can do a better job of controlling the begging which he does to appease the riders. The saying is "Jamaica noh easy". Most people probably like going to his "private" bar and avoiding the begging but some, like you, do not. Sometimes I take the One Love Bus just to go around to some different places and don't even drink anything but I still tip Lenbert for the service he provides for himself and his community. Big Up Lenbert!