My love for Treasure Beach made me decide to make a large land purchase there. I am considering an all inclusive resort along with a supermarket. I have other interest there too, as this part of Jamaica needs to be developed.

Any feedback would be appreciated, I have spoken to several business people in Spanish Town who also has an interest in opening business places in Treasure Beach.

Why can't we just be happy with the way things are.
All inclusive will bring jobs to the community yes and that is a good thing, but at what cost?

If you love Treasure Beach so much why change it so radically? Why not do something about educating the citizens of the community? Training people on computers, for example, so that we an have a population of computer literate people who will be able to compete in the world arena for contracts from "developed" contries who are continually outsourcing computer related jobs? If you love TB,the best thing you can do is to train her citizens to be independent.

TB is the only place in the world where my soul feels like it belongs.and my greatest fear is one day I'll go to TB and not feel like I belong.

Why must we try to possess the people/things we claim we love?

I hope and pray the love of the almight dollar doesn't destroy our little community. I will never sell my little piece of TB. NEVER. I will respect my grandfathers wishes of keeping the land in the family.
My God, the young people in the community can't even afford to purchase land to build houses and raise their families!

IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!!

Come visit us, stay in the lovely cottages, enjoy our beaches, food, people and go back home with wonderful memories.

Hello Love Jamaica, what do you understand by the terms 'sustainable development' and 'community tourism'?

From my experience TB welcomes development.

But, your projected balance sheet needs to include items such as: effect goods for sale have on community and environment (toxic chemicals, unhealthy foods etc), effect of clearing land for project (tree loss, arable ground loss, etc), air polution from incineration, garbage disposal/recycling, contribution to community health, encouragement of learning and beauty in TB, noise and stress from traffic, increased sewage and chemical load on aquifer and consequent pollution of ocean, displacement of fauna ('red batty' spiders and Co.), etc.

Please do not take this as discouragement from me but some directions that I feel many in the community would like defined and practiced.

If you have already commited, welcome!

I hate to see AI's come to TB. A large part of TB's appeal is the smaller guest houses. Tourist go out and spend $$$ in in small restraunts. Some of $$ gets spread around.

Come visit us, stay in the lovely cottages, enjoy our beaches, food, people and go back home with wonderful memories.


AMEN !!!

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but does anyone else feel like the original post here could be a hoax?

Could 'Love Jamaica' post some more details? Who are you?

Why not an All Inclusive? I'd stay there. No money would be taken away from the community. Treasure Beach is a welcoming village. I feel comfortable leaving my hotel and exploring unlike many other parts of Jamaica. All inclusive just means I can eat and drink all day without worring about my bill in the end. Those who provide services (bike, tours, food, beverage, wait staff) will get their money since it's included in the price of your hotel stay. Which is why you pay more. I stayed at Jakes when I came recently in Jan and LOOOOVED it! LOOOOVED the Wild Onion. LOOOVED Shirley. LOOOVED the cool guys who took us out around to Little Ochie and to the YS Falls. These could not be replaced. Even if I returned and stayed at an All Inculsive, I'd still go out. Remember, sometimes it's boring to just stay around your hotel. Give tourists a little more credit than that. And if they do, it's because they do not feel safe going around; which is not the case with TB.

But I do understand the hesitation. The great thing about TB is laid back, cool, inviting, comfortable feel of the village. To put a large hotel with huge gate around it to keep the touris in and the community out will disrupt the vibe...which would NOT be good.

Hi nurse ratchet, do visitors leave anything besides $ behind?

If an 'outsider' falls in love with TB and wants to settle there, what guidelines would you, or others suggest?

WONDERING, I TOO IS THINKING THE SAMETHING, THATS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND, SOUND KIND OF FISHIE TO ME.'LOVE JAMAICA' PLEASE GIVE MORE INFO.I WELCOME DEVELOPMENT IF IT'S THE TRUTH.

I can only speak for myself. I married a guy from TB and we are building a home there.

Cyberscribe, you seem to contradict yourself. Or perhaps I misunderstand.

At the end, you say "To put a large hotel with huge gate around it to keep the touris in and the community out will disrupt the vibe...which would NOT be good."

I consider this the definition of an all inclusive.

Are you using Jakes as a model for the all inclusive? If so, then I think it's a false one. To me, Jake's is a great example of what a resort should be. But it certainly isn't all inclusive (and, by extension, all-exclusive).

As for the money staying in the community, I tend to think that all inclusive profits go to the corporation that's head quartered anywhere but TB.

My two cents.,
Eric

'Love Jamaica',I was born and raise in Treasure Beach, know the place like the back of my hand, if you are telling the truth, tell me where did you purchase this large peice of land and from whom ,and are you a Jamaican or a foreighner, doesn't make any difference just curious.

At the end, you say "To put a large hotel with huge gate around it to keep the touris in and the community out will disrupt the vibe...which would NOT be good." I consider this the definition of an all inclusive

As for the money staying in the community, I tend to think that all inclusive profits go to the corporation that's head quartered anywhere but TB.

I agree !

Eric I totally agree with you. What the people need is education so the community does not have to depend on tourism. My mom who is wonderful woman work at Calabash house, When there is no guest one must find other means of supporting ones family I have seen it first hand. The people need jobs and education so when the children grauate from school they do not have to leave TB or even Jamaica to look for jobs. The country on a whole needs to have better system set up to helps it's people otherswise the country will always be considered Third world and under develope. So these big rich man can continue to exploite the people and there children. One Jamaican$ couldn't buy me nothing in Canada, maybe a $50 I can get a pack of gum.
I love My island especially TB because of the way it was , however I don'y know what it will bbe like when I return and that scares me.

Treasure Beach already has a supermarket, and many small shops that sell basic food and sundry items. Food vans pass through with fresh produce daily. Close your eyes, stop and think for a minute how many jobs would be lost, how many shops closed, how many local farmers would suffer and then decide if you will still love it here. As for the all-inclusive, what I have to say has too many foul words for this site.

Love Jamaica:

If you love Jamaica, and you love Treasure Beach, and this is not a hoax - sure come on back and build your all inclusive...but please make sure your all inclusive is not some big, ulgy, concrete monstrosity with no greenery...build LOW DENSITY, and PRESERVE all the VEGETATION around it, build around OLD trees, and find a good Architect to look around at Jake's, and some of the villas to get the vibe that Treasure Beach is all about!!

Growth is always good, but you are going to invest in a rustic community not a hip strip. Educate yourself on this, and you will not have a problem.

Best to you...

I can think of nothing I'd like to see less in TB than an all-inclusive. The low-density, gentle vibe of the guest houses and small hotels in TB feel just right, create a good balance of residents and visitors, ensure that tourism feeds the economy but doesn't completely destroy the way of life in the community. If your idea of an all-inclusive is Jake's perhaps my fears will not be realized. If you're fantasizing about something like the monstrosities in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, I beg you to reconsider. Yes, jobs need to be created, but at what cost?

Eric,

Why yes, I did in a way contradict myself on purpose. I was seeing both sides. Yes, keeping Treasure Beach the great comfy village with cottages is exactly why I came to this part of Jamaica. I rarely if ever go to large hotels with screaming kids and drunk college (sometimes the mid life crisis) crowd. To experience Jamaica is to "be" in Jamaica. I've walked away with very good friends and nothing but praises for TB.

I was using Jakes as the example because Dougie's bar and Jake Sprat is popular and close and I was staying there and drinking and eating at a drop of a dime. Just say an all inclusive advantage would be nice to not have to calculate a bill in the end...though completely not necessary. And no, I don't think Jakes should become an all Inclusive, just trying to make a point about convenience.

Now I have stayed at AI's in the caribbean before. Preferably spas and loved every minutes. Because it was a specialty type of resort, it brought those more focused on relaxation so hence the hand up for the pro AI side. So maybe some guidelines and limitations (I know I'm going to be put on blast for this) could be enforced like "should have no more than x rooms or should be a spa or some other specialty (like meditation / spiritual healing focusedt) TB can only offer. Not sure if there is a historical society or one be created. Jamaica is a natural resource and people like Shirley are trying to preserve traditional healing and healthy living with nature herbs the land still produces. Now THAT would be hot. - Side note: I'd only want finders fee if one is built. This type of place could have classes and seminars and yoga sessions and excursions specifically focused to it's purposed and cooking demonstrations. For it not to be all inculusive would "disrupt the vibe" so to speak when the focus should be on healing when you have to dig in your wallet and/or sign a bill to your room. A flat rate could cover food and drinks (maybe to a limit like breakfast and dinner and certain beverages only - a lot of spas do this). And with these specific offerings, you'd contract those in TB with these skills where the money goes directly (of course the hotle will have to turn a profit of course) to them. This is not a buisness plan so excuse some flaws...just imagine the next level or other ways TB could be realized.

the idea of a large hotel in the TB area is welcome.however,an all- inclusive will take away from the tourist the pleasure and life that the TB comunity has to offer to them.

I hope the all-inclusive announcement was a hoax, because such a place will not enhance our community. If one looks at other all-inclusives, you'll see they do little to help the areas in which they are situated. Top employees are brought in from the outside, not from the local community -- as are most of the mid-level employees. The construction people, even the laborers, are brought in from outside the community. Food is bought by the corporation from wholesalers, not from the local community. Area tours are offered through selected guides who have "arrangements" with the all-inclusives. (Can you say kick-back?) Souvenirs are bought in bulk from outside, not from locals, and sold in the all-inclusives' shops. Even transport to and from the airports is handled by the all-inclusives themselves.

If you have had an opportunity to tour Sandals Whitehouse (as we did), you will realize it neither looks nor feel Jamaican. Yes, there are palm trees and a beach; but these could be on any Caribbean island. You can't walk around barefoot; men must wear a collared shirt and long pants to dine at any inside restaurants; and the interiors look something like a Ritz Carlton. They even boast "international villages" which do a below-average job of pretending to be Dutch or French or whatever. This is obviously a lovely resort, but it is the opposite of the Treasure Beach experience.

Having spent time at all-inclusives (perhaps an embarrassing admission), we learned that going outside the gates -- except on an "approved" (and sanitized) tour was always discouraged. Plus, if all your food and liquor is covered by in your stay, you are likely to not want to spend money outside the all-inclusive.

Treasure Beach already has a delicate ecosystem. Residents know all too well about such things as being careful with water and protecting our reefs. Our road system is barely adequate for the current traffic; local residents seem to spent more time repairing and bushing roads than the government.

I fail to see how an all-inclusive will make any positive contribution to the community.

Why does our( used to be a quit and sereal) home place need more developement.once it was a real lovely place now a feel a stranger in where there was cows and donkeys and open space no is just money grabbing clotter, cant some one say noff done Aaron

Why would a legitimate businessman float an idea like an A-I, ask for feedback and not leave his email address? Could it be that it is a Hoax? Someone who noticed the April Fools joke was taken seriously by many and decided to create his own? Perhaps I'm the fool this time but I do not believe one word of his post.

I believe the original poster is trying to crank you all up. First of all, there are not many large parcels of land around that could accommodate an inclusive, as it probably have to be ocean front. (I'm from the area and know it well). Second, do you really think that someone who was planning to build and all-inclusive resort in Treasure Beach would be posting his/her ideas on this site. Ridiculous, he/she would just go ahead and do what they are going to do. They don't need your ideas or approval. Trust me, if this person had the kind of money to build and all inclusive, they would be getting their market surveys done elsewhere. Is this the same guy with that ridiculous map of Jamaica and his so called website. Sounds awfully like him to him.

...and every visitor and resident should have access to the internet. At a reasonable price.

HOW ABOUT BUILDING A MINI HOSPITAL GET SOME GOOD DOCTORS AND NURSES(maybe I would be one of them) WHERE THE POOR SICK RESIDENTS CAN GET SOME QUICK ATTENTION INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT AN ALL INCLUSIVE TO BRING CRIME TO THE AREA........DRUGS, OUTLAW SEXUAL ACTIVITIES AND CONTAMINATION TO TREASURE BEACH...... YES, WE WANT TO BE BUILT UP BUT, WITH THE RIGHT AND MOST CONVENIENCE FACILITIES.....THIS WOULD BY ALL MEANS STILL GENERATE WORK FOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE INTERESTED......?

Where is Love Jamaica? We cannot hear from him or her...could this be a Jamaican who has lived abroad for such a long time, and just does not understand the concept of Treasure Beach? Maybe this person sees development as a positive move in Treasure Beach, maybe their tastes are different, they just do not fully understand the concept of Treasure Beach?

I thought at first it was a hoax, but trust me - the way I see Jamaicans living abroad coming back and building up developments and huge concrete houses and shops, I think this person is telling the truth - they actually believe that they will be contributing something positive to the community and want feedback!

While I cannot tell you Love Jamaica, that you cannot build your all inclusive in Treasure Beach, all we can do is to give you some advise - to go and study up on the people who go to Treasure Beach, and why they do - because they want to get away from the all inclusive holiday.

Also, what bothers me about your post, is your comment about "business people in Spanish Town wanting to open business places in Treasure Beach" - what kind of businesses? offices? shops? God Forbid, another car wash place? I am a little confused - I think you and your friends need to conduct a proper market survey and go from there.

If you truly love Jamaica, then you will be true to the community of Treasure Beach, and understand beforehand the pros and cons of all inclusive resorts in general...read the home page on this site - explaining that T. Beach is not about built up hip strips, and get a feel for the place before you march on ahead and do this. Talk to people well known in the community - Jason Henzell, Rebecca Wiersma, and Judy Schoenbein, who is Chairman of the JHTA South Coast committee, before you go ahead.

HOW ABOUT BUILDING A MINI HOSPITAL GET SOME GOOD DOCTORS AND NURSES(maybe I would be one of them) WHERE THE POOR SICK RESIDENTS CAN GET SOME QUICK ATTENTION INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT AN ALL INCLUSIVE TO BRING CRIME TO THE AREA........DRUGS, OUTLAW SEXUAL ACTIVITIES AND CONTAMINATION TO TREASURE BEACH...... YES, WE WANT TO BE BUILT UP BUT, WITH THE RIGHT AND MOST CONVENIENCE FACILITIES.....THIS WOULD BY ALL MEANS STILL GENERATE WORK FOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE INTERESTED......?


Great idea! I'd love to work in a clinic in TB during the winter. (My backround is Public Health) In the summer my husband & will need to go a farin to make $$

The idea of an all-inclusive in TB just breaks my heart. If you chose, perhaps, to build a medium size property in keeping with the style of the area, that might be okay. Or better yet a "village" of individual cottages and villas would be lovely.

I've spent a good deal of time in the Ocho Rios area and have seen how the all inclusives kill the entrepreneurial spirit in the community. Why should someone want to try to open a restaurant or food stall, if few of the tourists will eat there? Sadly, the all inclusive resorts on the North Coast perpetuate the stereotype that Jamaica is a dangerous place and the locals need to be kept out by gates and fences. Those of us who love the island know that the majority of Jamaicans are wonderful, warm and welcoming people who will go out of there way to make your stay in their country a pleasure and who are truly happy to share the culture, history and traditions of their homeland. My life has certainly been enriched by interacting with the residents of Treasure Beach and I don't want an all inclusive any closer than Whitehouse.

Build a small cottage colony or resort and we will support you. Build a community center with opportunites for education and enrichment, and we'll salute you.

Trying to picture in my mind where in Treasure Beach such a place that large could be constructed.If there is sea front involved then the only property I can vision is where Tranquility Bay is presently located.

To be politely honest I think this would be a big mistake and the citizens of Tb should demonstrate and march in protest of such an idea.

We do not want our tranquil little village to become a second Negril/Ochi with all the hussle and bustle and God knows what else comes with it.

Thanks for loving TB but please take your All-Inclusive idea somewhere else.

I will applause Nurse Rachet on her comment because I do think that's what is needed in our community as we speak.

Back seaside is a big open space...

It's ok bearer of bad news, back seaside is guarded by some bad Taino duppies!!!

Respect to the Gilpin family for preserving a great treaure!

Imagine....Easter 1491..Back Sea Side...Lignum Vitae forests...Manatee surfing ( ask Conroy!)...Iguanas galore...fat Yellow Snakes...

Yes, worth guarding as is...restoration to Taino Garden!!!

I'm in!!!

Bearer of bad news...I didn't even think about back sea side...

If only there was some way for us to purchase the land and keep it in trust for the community.

God help our little piece of paradise. My heart aches, and I feel so powerless...

Back seaside is a big open space...



Fort Charles also comes to mind.

I will applause Nurse Rachet on her comment because I do think that's what is needed in our community as we speak.

Thanks, but I can't take credit for the idea. I was agreeing with what " nursey" posted.

Back Seaside - the owner would never sell it! I know that for a fact - it is sacrilidge (spelling?) as the owner has said.

By turey on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 04:18 pm:

It's ok bearer of bad news, back seaside is guarded by some bad Taino duppies!!!

I sure hope so.

But, what about Fort Charles?

Hello nurse, The noise and emissions from post buggy traffic through Fort Charles has driven them into the hills.

They are waiting until we set a table for them of gardens, ponds, groves and silence before they decend.

i stayed at an AI in Ochee my first visit ,where we were instructed to turn RIGHT at the end of the driveway--NEVER GO LEFT-- . What brought me back to JA was the opportunity to go left, and get a chance to visit the real community and people. I have yet to visit TB, but it sounds like a jewel--why close off visitors from such an opportunity??

Hi, Ms Otis--
No one wants to 'close off visitors' from TB. We just don't think we need enormous, soul-sucking AI's to bring in the visitors. TB is full of lovely, small, family-owned and operated guest houses that make for beautiful visits. Nothing 'closed off' as with AI's, instead, visitors are able to meet and interact with as many locals as they'd like.

Mi hope dis a joke! Love Jamaica doesn't Love T.B. at all! I an'I would never stay at such a place. If big money come in, Big Problems soon follow! The people of T.B must stand firm against dis!

Hey Love Jamaica,

Please stay away - you are NOT welcome here.

There are so many buildings going up in Treasure Beach, no one can keep track of who owns what or who is selling what.

Eric you are so right inclusive profits do go to the corporation.

Are we limiting our view to AI's as monstrous buildings with gates around to keep tourist in and locals out? Or could TB dictate how their community shall be developed? Where are the historical preservationalist who boast the love of TB and the historical value? Should they provide guidelines to how something shall be built to maintain the authenticity of the area? And please dont tell me you cant because developers have "money".

I believe the term "All Inclusive" is getting a bad rep. Think outside the box for a second. The idea of AI's is for those staying at the hotel to do and be for their entire visit WITHOUT having to watch every penny. Now unfortunatley the large hotels have garnered a bad rep for being "exclusive" to only tourists and the service they provide happens to be....yep! All Inclusive. But what if TB takes a hold of their destiny and mandate that developers respect the area and offer something "unique" of the area...natural resources. And preserve that buildings can only be XYZ or services should offer XYZ indicutive of the region. Wouldn't that re-define the term "All Inclusive" to mean just that...all that you're paying for "includes" food, booze, classes, tours, etc.?

Okay Cyberscribe, here is the reality in Jamaica. Where Sandals Whitehouse is built was designated a protected area. So what? In Negril, nothing was ever supposed to be built on the swamp side of the road or in Bloody Bay. So what? In Mamee Bay Ocho Rios, Riu still does not actually have a building permit, yet the hotel is up and running. All of these were 'fought' by environmental protection agencies and citizens but so what. It's all well and good to say 'stand up and fight'. I'd like to see fishermen in Treasure Beach try and fight Butch Stuart or the inefective government we have. In Jamaica money talks and laws were made to be broken. End of story.

Reality,

Money talks all over the world. No way around that one. And quite frankly just saying "so what" could be a cop out. Ochie, Negril and Montego Bay are considered "cities" where having those types of hotels make sense. Treasure Beach is "unique". The goal shouldn't be to "fight" developers as it is to "guide" them in their planning to ensure preservation of the land is met. And from a business perspective, the attraction to Jamaica IS the land. Why would I want to muck it up just for the sake of putting up a huge hotel? And why would I want to put it in a nice "sleepy" town? I'm sure to NOT have travelers seeking my hotel out if there is little for them to do. Not a good business plan. What makes Ocho Rios such a hot spot is (1) the cruise ships that dock daily and let off a slew of travellers looking to buy any and everything...so money. (2) Larger area of land and beaches to chill out and drink...more money. (3) You get the picture.

So the bottom line is...dont freak out. You cant stop progress and development. But you DO have a voice is all I'm saying. Trust me, the struggle continues. Cant give up. I know it's hard but never give up. And if push comes to shove...shoot hit up all those tourist who claim such love for TB. The more the better. An united voice can make a difference. Dont ever believe your struggles are your own. There are similar issues like this happening all over the world.

In my humble opinion the person who initiate this thread, was only trying to start a fire. He/She must have read the other thread "about returning to TB", I guess the writer just place a twist to the thread.

How much "all-inclusive" does TB needs, we already have; morals, integrity, independence, high community spirit, friendly, laid-back, we are our brothers keeper, God-faring, we are unique. So writer your idea of an "all inclusive maybe a building, we dont need a building to be all inclusive. So pack your bags and come and enjoy our natural: all-inclusive, you will change your mind about your concept of all-inclusive.

There will probably be clients for the AI's for a while.

However, there are many visitors with wants that are being ignored or are unrecognised.

Dry-land and foreign.

These are the things that I think are looked for: Lack of pressure to enable relaxing into the new experience and to start shedding the stresses from the previous.

Physical safety but not coddling.

A trust in the local population from the 'feel' and from the history.

Locals having knowlege of local history and natural history and willingness to share it.


Libraries and Museums (yes plural) in the community


Sustainable development (and math, physics etc) being taught and practiced in school gardens and comfortable and stress free classrooms and workshops. Every student having access to a computer and good basic hand tools.

Availability of CERTIFIED local organic foods and the possibility of working in the fields...learning and teaching.

Local recycling and composting. No incineration.

Traditional buildings encouraged with food and medicinal gardens, water catchment, composting toilets, generating own electricity and hot water etc.

Ability to walk unfenced seaside, meadows and hillsides without fear of molestation.

Encouragement of high quality local craft and art.

Reforestation with local trees.

Etc.

Idealism?............... fer shure!!!

It's either same old or responding to a need in ways that will benefit the community and indeed be a pattern for other areas.

What do you think?

I would like to see someone fight Chris Blackwell never mind Bush Stuart. There is so much we don't know and will never know. Chris Blackwell owns Treasure Beach. Don't judge the store by what's in the show glass.

We just came back from TB. We stayed at the best all inclusive on the Island...Rainbow Tree. We experienced the culture, ate the best and explored the community (again) including boat trips, eating at local establishments, attending social events and continued to meet new people from various countries staying at other villas. Again we enjoyed the "old" locals just as well as meeting the "new" locals. All of our needs were met, by everyone in the all inclusive village of Treasure Beach. Hold on to TB. It is a very special community that caters to a different type of "all inclusive" travelers.

Tone ,(tho it seems so long ago) I agree with no need for enormous AI's. I believe THAT situation is what cuts visitors off from the real community. From what I have read here, people are happy With the way things are in TB(visitors, anyway) If it ain't broke............

I am living in Grand Cayman now. It's disgusting. Traffic jams, trashy streets, endless rows of bars, and rich people who take and give nothing to the CULTURE. If TB wants to become like Kingston, Montego, etc., then welcome "developers". I'll be comming to TB soon, maybe for the last time if the AI's come... We need a moritorium on immigration AND developement...

John, how long have been living in Grand Cayman and where in Grand Cayman do you live.