To open up some reasoning continuing on the thread below on the future of TB and tourism.

There seems to be more than one plan by more than one entity. I have not heard of a plan coming from the community. Not to devalue any plans as 'outsider'; all the assistance this, or any community gets to attain a sustainable economic and environmental path should be welcomed. Conditions of acceptance allways given a good look.

If encouragement of tourism is to be an important part of the path, is this forum the only voice for those from, or interested in the community to reason? I had suggested that the PM's office open a blog on their Sustainablity 2030 website. That would open the process to a wider audience. Foolishness seems to disappear quickly and tyranny is hard in a faceless blog. The only reward is the satifaction of expression, unless one baits for ego gratification.

I believe there are several within the community that could be teachers by demonstartion and talk on the subject of transforming from fishing and farming to hosting guests within the existing family structure. The old Negril had the informality and family structure that enabled peace and love. That community has much to teach. Both the successes and the consequences of allowing certain limits to be expanded.

Already maintained shelter and gardens reduce that load from the balance sheet. Twelve can live as cheaply as six and the travelling young and not so, are ready to wash, cook and teach. A calabash of fresh water is all that some need too, no swimming pools. Arthur Frommer wrote about this many years ago, alternative tourism is what he termed it. Not to direspect swimming pools, some require it. As exists now, 5 Star Villa to High Ital Roots, all have their place.

When hurricane is coming, we stock up and tie down. The wind of change is on us and more are threatening from outside. It would serve us well to forget any ancient feuds and recent disses, percieved or other. As in an engine, any noise is both a sign of inefficiency and a leak of energy.

Treasure Beach and its people has more to offer than just Tourism. In order to benefit in a substantial way from Tourism you have to invest substantially. My concern is for the young people who are joining the work force annually, some of them with university degrees and still can't find a job . Our human resource is our greatest asset, we have a relatively cheap labour cost, and an abundance of solar energy. We have easy access to major markets, at home and abroad (USA, Canada)

I understand that there is a sport centre being built, which will enable more play. We already play too much. Though this may provide some sporadic economic activity, we would be better serve with a production centre, to facilitate manufacturing of various products. (Garments, footwear, boats, food processing etc.) We need to produce more, not play more. How men organize to produce the means of their subsistence, constitute the fundamental relations of society. (Karl Marx)

Tourism in TB. started in the early 1930s, when Mr Dicker, a Canadian gentleman happened on the scene. He first discovered that the climate was good for a medical condition that he had. He bought the land and built the original TB. hotel. Mr. Sutton came shortly after and built Folichon, then Mr. Densham built Treasure Cot, followed by Mr Harris who built Golden Sand.

TB. has been slowly evolving as a tourist destination ever since, and will continue to do so. Back in those days, fishing, farming, including livestock, and construction were the main pillars of economic activities, tourism then came and was a welcome and well needed addition. It is time to move forward into manufacturing.

However, there was a popular sport indigenous to TB. that was practiced in the 1930’s to the 1960’s, which would provide much more employment opportunities, than cricket and football ( soccer) would provide much better tourist attraction. To maximize the potential of such a sport however, would require the approval of the Betting Gaming and Lottery commission.

I've heard the olde heads talk about that sport and those times Vahwn. There are still a few of them that can recall.