Officials worried about size of Fiesta Resorts

Claudia Gardner, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

CIVIC AND political leaders in Hanover have expressed mixed views about the Jamaica Environment Trust's (JET) evaluation of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Fiesta Resorts hotel to be built at Point Estate in Lucea.

The JET conducted the evaluation in March, with technical assistance from the United States-based Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) and has stated that it does not support the present design of the 2,000-room hotel, as its scale is too large for the area.

The JET stated that the hotel is 'not in keeping with the nature of the coastline, the land use change proposed is irreversible and combined with the proposed golf course would further degrade the coral reefs in the area'. It recommended that the construction be significantly scaled down, and that the sewage treatment system be redesigned.

But, Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Barrington Gray, told Hospitality Jamaica that while he had not read the EIA report, he believes the problem could be easily solved if the Government provides the Fiesta group with additional land in the area.

"If the Fiesta portion of the land is too small, Government should give them the amount needed, so we can get the construction going," Mr. Gray said, adding that he wanted the hotel built because of the large unemployment in his constituency.

ONUS ON THE NEPA

And president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, Anthony Marks, said while he had taken only a 'cursory glance' at the EIA, he had attended the Fiesta consultation earlier this year and feels that the onus is now on the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to protect the interest of both the Fiesta group and the people of Hanover.

"The chamber is all for development, but is conscious of the environmental concerns. Hanover needs the Fiesta hotel, because we have a high unemployment rate. JET has concerns, which may be valid concerns, therefore, I expect NEPA, as the Government agency responsible for environmental protection, to be there to ensure that all safeguards are taken to preserve the environment."

In the meantime, chairman of the Hanover Parish Development Committee (HPDC) Nerris Hawthorne said that she is yearning for the construction of the hotel, as Lucea has no economic base.

"I would say if they propose to have five-story buildings, this could be scaled down to smaller buildings, which could be spread out over the area, so as not to make it look obtrusive. I am environmentally conscious too. I did ask Fiesta about the coral reefs and they gave what seemed like a suitable answer at the time."

She said she had concerns about how the sewage would be managed, "Because we don't want raw sewage on the coral reefs out there."

However, she said she really needed to see the construction happen owing to the abandoning of the plans for the cruise shipping terminal. "Negril and MoBay are getting their share and we are denied. We have nothing! We have high school children graduating each year with no hope and I know the hotel industry is certainly one way of absorbing these people," she added.