More from the contribution to the sectoral debates 2013 by MP Hugh Buchanan Mr. Speaker the Tourism product in South West St Elizabeth is dynamic and diverse and offers potential unimaginable. We offer to Jamaica and the World: . Community Tourism . Heritage Tourism . Sport Tourism . Agro-Tourism Mr. Speaker ,South West St. Elizabeth is leading the way in Community Tourism with TREASURE BEACH, having won the BEST COMMUNITY Award for 2012/2013. SW St. Elizabeth is leading the way in Sports Tourism having created a Sport Tourism Strategy with funding of J$1.5M from CIDA. Early actions from this Plan has resulted in the hosting of the Valencia Football Academy, the prestigious House of Lords & Commons Cricket Team, made up of UK Parliamentarians which toured Kingston and St. Elizabeth and was hosted by the Most Honorable Prime Minister, the British High Commission, Mayor of Black River, Appleton Estate and Chairman of the South Coast Resort Board . Mr. Speaker, Sport Tourism has seen the introduction of new and dynamic events such as 21st Century Night Football, Gatorade Futsal League and the introduction of Boxing on the South Coast. Treasure Beach Sports Park & Academy being a model for private - public partnership raised Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) of which 87% is private and 13% public funding which came via the Sports Development Foundation to establish Irrigation Wells and purchase a Solar Irrigation pump for the Sports Park. Lands on which the Sports Park is established Were purchased by former Minister of Water and Housing the late Donald Buchanan and leased to the BREDS FOUNDATION for forty-nine (49) years. South West St.Elizabeth ,Mr. Speaker, is leading the way with Nature Based Tourism attractions as the Tourism sector in South West St Elizabeth has been partnering with other facilities in the parish with the re-opened Lovers Leap, YS Waterfalls, Holland Bamboo, Black River Safari . South West St.Elizabeth has tremendous potential for Bed & Breakfast Tourism to include smaller players in the Tourism product. We have become the preferred area for returning residents who have built homes which has boosted the construction industry and domestic employment. South West St.Elizabeth has tremendous potential for alternative energy Mr. Speaker we will be working closely with the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee to invite potential investors in alternative energy to the Constituency. Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee having completed the Greater Treasure Beach Sustainable Development Plan which includes Black River and is now securing funding for the remainder of the parish to then produce an updated Parish Development Order which was last done in 1969. Mr. Speaker , working closely with the re -established South Coast Resort Board to identify projects which have potential to generate economic activity as well as managing population growth, we can identify other events such as Calabash Literary Festival, St Elizabeth Horticultural Show (Easter Mondays) to attract locals and overseas visitors to South West St.Elizabeth. Mr. Speaker our next focus will be on the potential for Agro Tourism by promoting Farm Tours, Taste- trails and “Farm to Table” experiences in the Pedro Plains by identifying value- added products which can use crops from the Constituency (i.e. Dried Fruits, Peanut Butter, Jerk Sauce, Jams etc) and this is one of the many ways we will ensure the participation of our people in sustainable development in the Constituency.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 02:36:59 +0000
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