By Vinette K. Pryce

After Hurricane Dean:
“Jamaica open for business”; Tourism minister assures visitor

In an effort to arrest any speculations about Jamaica’s ability to provide hospitality to tourists, the island’s tourism minister Aloun N’dombet Assamba reached out to international media to provide assurances that “Jamaica is open for business.”
From a media center erected at Kingston’s Hilton Hotel, Tuesday, the minister stated that more than 14,000 tourists opted to remain on the island during Hurricane Dean’s category four threats predicted by the Weather Channel.
She said all were well and could have been evacuated along with a majority of others totaling 35,000 however, prior to the Sunday arrival of the predicted weather turmoil the visitors decide to remain in the Caribbean.
During the phone conversation, overcast skies threatened more rains in Kingston and the rest of the island.
Hurricane Dean did not make a direct hit on the island but breezed past the southeast region of the island leaving four dead, more than 300 homeless and roofless shelters in some parishes.
Concerned with tourism, Assamba focused on the restoration of international flights into the island as well as assuring stateside residents that the hotels were “up and running.”
Although the hotel sector was saved from the ravages of the storm, the Governor General Kenneth Hall issued notice that the national elections slated for Aug. 27 would be pushed back to Sept. 3.
Some schools scheduled to reopen from summer break would also have to wait until Sept. 10 due to ruins, from wind and rain.
The minister of education said on Power 106 radio that the announced date was premature and might not be effective due to the fact many schools now house homeless citizens.
Category four winds forced the Jamaica Public Service to shut off electricity and water on the entire island. Downed electrical poles still pose danger to citizens living in some parts of rural Jamaica.
One of Kingston’s best-known hotels, the Jamaica Pegasus survived the worst of the ravages of Hurricane Dean but Tuesday guests had to be evacuated after a fire erupted there.
Guests were reportedly housed nearby in the Hilton and Courtleigh Hotels.
The Canadian High Commissioner’s office announced that they would remain closed until Aug. 27. While the United States Embassy is proceeding with daily closing announcements since Sunday.
Reports are that the popular Hellshire Beach eroded and houses along the area were devastated.
In the parish of Manchester roofs peeled off like paper, a resident said.
And concerns abroad about Clarendon’s vulnerable Portland Cottage seems to be no less a priority from the Hurricane Ivan invasion of families in 2004.
How a similar catastrophe could have befallen residents when reportedly new homes were built to replace the dilapidated living quarters washed away when the storm passed.
Reports were that warnings not to rebuild in the beleaguered area were ignored.
Concern overseas also rests on the call for a state of emergency declared on Monday by the government.
Many wanted to know how long citizens would have to be confined by security restrictions; what hours of curfew were imposed at night and what instructions were given to security forces to maintain peace.
Nationals seem to be most concerned that a throw-back to negative nostalgic references of two decades ago may re-occur.
With aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations and Food For the Poor in Florida immediately dispatched to needy citizens, there are pockets of groups unwilling to send goods already packed for emergency situations in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Reasons are that government reports claim that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management gave assurances that its operations are in full relief mode and seems to be able to provide aid to all the nation.
Groups in New York and Florida were mobilizing with the Jamaica consulates to send generators, bottled water and medical supplies to the island.
How they will proceed after hearing such comforting news is now in question.
The minister of tourism and culture steered clear of responding to any queries concerning elections, school openings, reports of fires, looting, the fate of the Pedro Cays fishermen, embassy closings, state of emergency dictate, or any topic not pertinent to tourism.
“Jamaicans always rise to the occasion,” Assamba claimed, “and once again they are doing just that.”
It must be noted that some of the worst hurricanes have wreaked the worst damage to Jamaica in September and nationals seem to be consumed with the fear that the hurricane season is only beginning and will only end three months from now.