That's a Quote from Diana McCaulay when she surveyed some local environmental conditions back in March.
Recall also that she was invited at the request of Jason Henzell, presumably due to her reputation of impartiality, history of thorough environmental analysis, advocacy for the stewardship of intertwined habitats in nature, as an activist digging below superficial surfaces.
If an alliance with JAKES' interests were assumed, its obvious, from her initial findings, that she scouted out judicious direction in an independent manner.

JET's fight to prevent mining in the fragile Cockpit is a real David versus Goliath tale...she and JET have many a righteous stone in their slings.

A capsule of her statement:
TB is RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT on the edge of exactly the type of development that would destroy it. It will happen in an incremental way, a nibbling away here, a nibbling away there, a bigger house here and there, a wall here, a zinc fence there, and the day when you hear a large hotel chain has bought a property or a piece of land and then it is over, bar the shouting.

In TB, I found a place, while not perfect by any means, was still a real place, an authentic bit of Jamaica, a place where walls and fences were at a minimum (although escalating), a quiet place, a clean place, a place where visitors were not isolated from residents, a place where beaches were shared and the coastline was visible at many points. I imagine some of you understand precisely how rare this is in modern Jamaica we have built, but perhaps not everyone is geared up to fight for is preservation.

What needs to happen is the community insist on the development of some kind of community or parish plan, could be a development order (parish wide) or just a plan for TB. Getting this to have the force of law is a longer exercise, but it can and should be done as a matter of the most extreme urgency.

...You have such advantages in TB...a relatively unspoiled natural environment, a really good working model of low impact tourism...low levels of poverty and crime and so on. I don't need to tell you what you have. All I need to tell you is how quickly it can all change...Nuff said. We all (but especially residents) have to come together around one theme-keep the treasure in Treasure Beach.

The heavy influx of visitors to TB for the Calabash Festival sends the mind on a "thought game" to explore Diana's declaration that TB is Right at this Moment and the need for a Sustainable Tourism Development and the nagging issue of how much GROWTH is desirable.

Leaving aside the question of the Boundaries of TB and how determined (topographic or road demarcations or natural features or goat paths or contour lines within sight of the major Bays and precincts (Great Bay, Old Wharf, Calabash Bay, Frenchman's Bay, Billy's Bay, Ft Charles.)

Who is included...who is left out...who draws the lines?

Could the Treasure Beach brand become so desirous that the town of Beacon would want to be absorbed into the Treasure Beach Planning Charter?

Implied in all this wondering is the level of growth or expansion of visits to the area that might keep the delicate balance... expanding but in equilibrium.

The magnet...the draw that is the Calabash Fest, in late May of the year, begs the question: how many mini-Calabashes could Treasure Beach endure on a yearly cycle?
The exhaustion factor alone from the organization and planning probably has everyone involved decompressing for quite a while.
We don't seem to mind the quality & esprit of the kind of visitor enjoying the readings and performances, though Derek Walcott came close to drawing blood in his darting nips at the "Mongoose".

But could other cultural heritage events and a depth of Eco-Tour
interest and promotion flatter the tourist product.
...TB as a jumping off point to National Parks beyond Guts River into the Canoe Valley (God's Hole)...up close and familiar with the manatees and timid crocodiles, swimming though golden aquatic foliage, in thrilling explorations of Rivers that spring...presto...out of rock.

Closer to home. The idea of envisioning Great Bay as the once thriving Taino village could win so many supporters, our University, Institute of Jamaica, the National Arboretum...

The Calabash Organizers (JAKES and company) have performed an invaluable service of showing the wide variety of TB accommodations available, on their website. Some of these "mom and pops" often fly under the radar and don't even appear on TB.Net's "Where to Stay".

The data breaks down the locale and the type (Villas; Small Hotels; Cottages/Houses; Guest Houses). For this purpose, all locations are those within 15 to 20 minutes of Jakes.
For the sake of this Market Research, not everyone might agree with their classification.
If an accommodation, for example, costs or is listed between US$1200 to US$4000 (a full Buccaneer Villa), is staffed with a
housekeeper/cook and gardener, has a pool, and sweet amenities , the following chart records it as "Villa" rather than a "Cottage"...just nitpicking.

SURVEY OF "ROOMS" AVAILABLE IN TREASURE BEACH

GREAT BAY:
--Seaside Villas (w/Pool): 0
----------------(w/o Pool): 10
--Small Hotel:-------------9
--Cottages/Houses:---------9
--Guest Houses:-----------17
--Total: 45

OLD WHARF:
--Seaside Villas (w/ Pool): 4
------------------(w/o Pool): 4
--Small Hotels-------------21
--Cottage-----------------2
--Total: 31

CALABASH BAY:
--Seaside Villas (w/ Pool)-----12
------------------(w/o Pool): 5
--Nearby to Beach Villas (w/ Pool): 7
--Small Hotels (Includes Jakes Total): 62
--Cottages/ Houses:---------16
--Guest House:-------------5
--Total: 88

FRENCHMAN'S BAY:
--Seaside Villa (w/o Pool):-----4
--Small Hotel---------------36
--Cottages/ Houses----------4
--Guest Houses-------------91
--Total; 135

BILLY'S BAY:
--Seaside Villas (w/ Pool):----31
------------ (w/o Pool)-----5
--Cottages/Houses----------1
--Guest Houses-------------22
--Total: 59

FT CHARLES:
--Seaside Villas (w/ Pool)------9
--Nearby to Beach Villas (w/ Pool)---8
--Bread & Breakfast (w/ Pool)-----12
--Cottage--------------------2
Total: 31

BEACON:
--Small Hotel-------------15
--House-----------------2
Total: 17

FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF "LISTED ROOMS": 406 ROOMS

If everyone theoretically doubled up in bed (following the primary Bedroom Rule: "Be Respectful of the Desires of Others"), the Rooms could accommodate 812 paying guests.
If you took 75% of that total, we're generously talking around 600 in these rooms.

HOW MANY MORE RENTAL ROOMS CAN THE TB ECONOMY ABSORB AND GIVE A "HEALTHY" RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENTS TO THEIR OWNER/HOSTS?

Thats a lot to take in ZED but i hear you.
have to think about all that you has said.

Calabash, although many people come into the area because of it, at least does not attract the hustlers and thugs, and hope it never will.

Why would a major chain hotel invest in TB. They're in the business of making a profit. What's in it for them? I'm gonna say the occupancy rate in TB this calender year is 30% ,if they're lucky. TB is what it is , too far from the airport for most, not enough nightlife for most, no golf courses, no natural harbor And the sand isn't white enough. To me the battle in TB is about the sanctity of private property and the ridiculous taxes on those that choose to run a small business.

a major hotel chain is most likely in the future of treasure beach .. or nearby.
as well as plans for a cruise ship pier in black river. (not sure if that has passed but some are pushing for it).

so the vision of the little community as we know it now, is indeed a very precious one to hold on to.

What has happened with VIJON, the volun-tourism enterprise that Stephanie Genus was working on? That effort would seem to fit in with some of what ZED is talking about.

Zed, I find your postings fascinating. Are you willing to tell us anything about yourself and your relationship to Treasure Beach?

GREAT BAY:
--Seaside Villas (w/Pool): 0
----------------(w/o Pool): 10
--Small Hotel:-------------9
--Cottages/Houses:---------9
--Guest Houses:-----------17
--Total: 45


I had no idea that there were so many in Great Bay!

Is there any procedure for gaining approval for development ideas, or can anybody pretty much do as they please?

Why would a major chain hotel invest in TB. They're in the business of making a profit. What's in it for them? I'm gonna say the occupancy rate in TB this calender year is 30% ,if they're lucky. TB is what it is , too far from the airport for most, not enough nightlife for most, no golf courses, no natural harbor And the sand isn't white enough. To me the battle in TB is about the sanctity of private property and the ridiculous taxes on those that choose to run a small business.

I would hate see a major hotel chain in TB. Part of TB's appeal is the lack of of big AI's.

Most people that I know that go to TB love the laid back vibes. The occupency rate is likely due to the economy.

Hi Connie,

VIJON is still here- our website is temporarily offline receiving a much needed facelift.

We worked this year on mostly playgrounds at Basic Schools and have assisted in painting at Pedro Plains Primary.

This summer we will be working with some local schools and offering the kids 6 weeks of summer camp options and classes.

Thanks ZED, a Treasure Beach Planning Charter would focus the community on the issues needing attention and the steps needed to achieve these.

I look forward to the creation and implementation of such a charter. Not as a focus on do not's but an encouragement to do.

Not dangling threats for breaking rules but offering rewards when deserved.

The beauty, cooling, clean air etc are rewards in themselves.

Yes, I'm sure Beacon and beyond will be inspired by such a charter. More so by it's implementation.

Who really thinks a major chain is in the future of TB? It would seem to make no economic sense whatsoever. Then again, someone may have a different definition of a major chain than I do. I am thinking of a Marriott, Holiday Inn, or similar as a "major chain". Sandals, certainly major in the Caribbean, has had problems filling their Whitehouse location almost from the onset and has been able to show decent occupancy rates only by heavy discounting, airline tie ins, and providing numerous fam (familiarity) trips for travel agents. Upscale chains such as Ritz Carlton have had trouble filling even their MoBay property. Right now, Island Outpost (Jakes) is the only "chain" in TB. They have a larger presence than some might realize because they also handle the rentals for some villas, even villas not necessarily owned by them. They are also expanding by leasing properties which have not been particularly successful and putting them under the Island Outpost umbrella.

The 30% occupancy guess would be low by any hotel's standards, putting them into a position of heavy financial losses. Presumably, villas and guesthouses and cottages do not have to maintain the high occupancy rate required by hotels; however, only a 30% occupancy rate for them would be well too low to have them close to a break even situation.

I am speculating as to Zed's purpose of presenting his statistics on the number of rooms available in TB, as well as his wondering about how many more rooms TB might be able to accommodate. My thought - and I wait to stand corrected by Zed - is the TB area cannot accommodate many more rooms and expect to have a healthy economic climate in the field of tourist accommodations. Let us recall all those who came to TB to visit people at Tranquility Bay are no longer coming, and this has hurt TB rentals.

There comes a point when there are only so many tourists. Then there is a competition of sorts to entice them to stay in one place instead of another. So the number of tourists remains more or less constant and the dollars they bring to TB remain fairly constant; the only difference is which hotel, villa, guesthouse, or cottage is able to take the dollars from the other.

Increasing the number of rooms does not mean the number of tourists will increase. It MAY mean the weaker places go under and the stronger places become even stronger. It may mean the weaker places feel compelled to sell or lease their properties to the owners of the stronger properties.

If Zed is referring to the Sports Park bringing in more tourists who require accommodations, this will only happen if the Sports Park is able to attract such things as "practice camps" for professional footballers because these people would need places to stay. Bringing people to TB for events such as concerts will not mean rental of any rooms but will, instead, seriously tax the already weak infrastructure.

I gotta think the posting about a major chain coming into TB is just speculation. Is there any evidence?

My opinion regarding a major chain has always been that it is unlikely. Given that we are not post card material (aqua blue water, lush vegetation and white sand beaches) makes it undesirable for those major hotels who cater to tourists rather than adventurers. Thank God then for our black sand, rough seas and 'casha' trees.

There was talk of a large hotel being built just outside of Black River pretty recently, on the white sand beach there. Not sure what happened to those plans, but sure hope they have been "lost" for good.