It could be only a matter of time before heritage tourism becomes an integral feature of the economy of the parish of Westmoreland and provide much-needed employment, especially for the youth of the parish.
"We recognise the importance of using tourism as a tool to create employment, to get heritage tourism, to get community tourism so that people can get involved in the tourism and get work and get employment out of tourism," Mmeber of Parliament for Western Westmoreland and Minister of Tourism Dr Wykeham McNeill stated.
In fact, a giant step towards the journey of the proposed venture was taken last week when the tourism minister, accompanied by a number of stakeholders, toured historical sites which are targeted to be transformed into heritage tourism attractions.
Among the stakeholders were representatives of stakeholder agencies, including the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings (SCJH), Customs of Westmoreland, Rev Canon Hartley Perrin, MP for Central Westmoreland Dwayne Vaz, Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Bertel Moore, councillors of the Westmoreland Parish Council, among others.
Perrin welcomed the proposed venture, arguing that it would offer legitimate employment opportunity and reduce the Westmoreland residents' temptation to turn to illegal means of income, such as the lotto scam, which is said to have influenced a spike in murders in the parish.
"I am really, really excited about the fact that our young people will no longer have to contemplate scamming or any other illegal activity, but now can be gainfully and lawfully employed and put the guns down," Perrin argued.
He added: "I use the opportunity to appeal to them to put the guns down ... put the guns down because guns kill, guns harm and guns only hurt and not heal, so I use the opportunity to say that as well."
Since the start of the year 59 murders have been recorded by the police in the parish, which recorded 29 murders for the corresponding period last year. The killings for the most part are claimed to have been triggered by conflicts amongst persons in the lottery scam, which is prevalent in western Jamaica.
Additionally, Perrin expressed hope that the projects will become a reality as soon as possible to add to the tourism dollars earned from the internationally acclaimed Negril resort town in the parish.
"We are looking with great anticipation for the day when the promises will become fulfilment. I am a man of prayer and I will continue to pray," remarked the clergyman.
In the meantime, McNeill revealed that last week's tour was a follow-up to a series of meetings.
"We are working together and are making our plans and determining what we want done. We're going to push together to get it done. You can't stay on the sidelines and bemoan what is not done, you have to be a part of the process to make it happen and we're all now working together to get things done correctly,"McNeill stated.
Major planks of the plan are to renovate the site of the ruins of the old Savanna-la-Mar Fort and refurbish the historical Fontabelle Great House at Frome.
Meanwhile, a technical team from the TPDCo has already done an analysis of the Great House, surrounding buildings and artifacts to determine how they could come together as a heritage tourism trail.
The Fontabelle landmarks are owned by the SCJH and its chairman, Donna Scott Mottley, has endorsed the proposals which are also supported by TPDCo, the Westmoreland Parish Council, the local Parish Development Committee, the Custos and Members of Parliament.
The view was also expressed that other agencies, including the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Jamaica Social Investment Fund, CHASE Fund and other social agencies could be integral to the proposed undertaking.
Scott Mottley envisioned the proposed development of the old fort and other landmarks as "phoenix rising from the ashes", adding, "and it reminds us that the potential that exists in Westmoreland for heritage tourism is so significant that, with all of us holding hands and coming together in a very short time, you are going to see the wealth which we are going to create in this community".
Moore expressed hope that the tour "will bear fruit in the near future", while Vaz underscored "the potential all the sites visited have".
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