Port Royal residents hope for cruise ship tourists

The residents of Port Royal are longing for the rebirth that would allow their historic town to be recognised and appreciated by tourists.

Since the last cruise ship docked in the fishing village 17 months ago, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) has intentions to host the largest cruise ship arrival in November, when the Niew Statendam vessel from luxury cruse line Holland America is set to call at the Naval Dockyard.

However, that announcement was not enough to wake the coastal town from its slumber, as residents argue that the cruise ship's arrival will not benefit economic activity for residents.

"Three years ago dem train us in bead making, and all now me don't make a money from cruise ship, all now. When they had the meeting up at the church the last time, I went there and we told them we can't afford the rent at the shops. I told them that since you are dislocating us, give us shop number one and we would come together and make money for ourselves," Ann-Marie Chamberlain said, adding that she was told by the PAJ that it was not their decision.

The disgruntled resident surmises that the rent, a value that she could not disclose, was too high for the residents and said that only big entities would be able to generate a profit from tourists. Fisherfolk who reside in an area called 'Up a Beach' bemoaned that they too have suffered.

"We can't make no money from selling our fish because if they don't make the tourists come into the town, vendors not willing to buy out fish to cook. Fi show you too, dem (tourists) don't even come this side of the town. If the ship come six in the morning, by three in the afternoon dem gone. We don't even see dem," one fisherman told the news team.

Like the residents, vendors in the Kingston Craft Market, too, feel left out of the cruise ship activities. From the onset of the coronavirus, with its first locally confirmed case coming in March 2020, craft entrepreneurs told THE STAR that sales have been hard to come by.

Yesterday, gospel music filled the hallways of the market and sellers made conversation with themselves.

"When the cruise ship come, dem pack dem up in bus and carry dem go all bout the place so we nuh get no sales. It very unfair because dem cater to Kingston Craft Market nuh time. Nothing nah gwan for we up here, only Ochi [Rios] and Montego Bay dem business bout," said a vendor who gave her name as Spence.

Other vendors said their products are often ignored, as tourists are carried on trips to attractions such as the Bob Marley Museum. They said that business has been its worst in years.

"I don't see the reason why them should be saying 'Come to Port Royal! Come to Port Royal!' and you are not allowing people to enjoy Port Royal. At the meeting dem say we not supposed to go up to the tourists cause that's harassment. So if me have my chain dem a sell, me can't walk up to dem and sell it because dem ago charge me," Chamberlain said.

Niew Statendam carries approximately 3,000 passengers, however, it will only have between 50 and 60 per cent capacity in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.