Jamaica celebrates opening of winter tourist season with church service

By Neil Armstrong in Jamaica

On the eve of the opening of Jamaica’s winter tourist season on December 15, leaders from across the tourism sector gathered at the historic Burchell Memorial Baptist Church in Montego Bay for a thanksgiving service, signalling that the country is ready to welcome visitors once again.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett joined Christopher Jarrett, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; Donovan White, director of tourism; and representatives from multiple tourism sectors in the church founded by national hero Sam Sharpe. The service offered prayers of gratitude for the resilience of Jamaicans following recent challenges, including Hurricane Melissa.

Among those in attendance were Angella Bennett, regional director of the Jamaica Tourist Board in Canada, and Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, a former minister of tourism. Reverend Davewin C. Thomas reminded the congregation of the importance of thanksgiving and highlighted the generosity shown by Jamaicans who supported neighbours and friends in the hurricane’s aftermath.

Following the service, a reception was held at the Iberostar hotel, where Minister Bartlett addressed approximately 120 attendees, including journalists, travel agents, and tourism stakeholders. He emphasized Jamaica’s ability to rebound quickly from crises, noting that tourism recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic within two years and surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

“Hurricane Melissa did not daunt the spirit of Jamaica or the capacity of Jamaicans to respond effectively,” Bartlett said. He explained that within the first week of the hurricane, Jamaica successfully repatriated 25,000 tourists who had been on the island.

Drawing on lessons learned during the pandemic, Bartlett said a recovery task force was immediately reactivated following the hurricane. He recalled that a similar team had been established the day after COVID-19 struck, led by John Byles, who was once again called upon to guide the resilience campaign. Bartlett serves as chairman de jure of the task force.

Within five weeks, despite some organizations still undergoing assessment and reconstruction, teams were able to tour all major tourism assets across the island, including attractions, small and large hotels, and key partners that drive Jamaica’s tourism experience.

“We said we will reopen tourism to the world on the 15th of December,” Bartlett said, adding that he would mark the occasion at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. The church service, he explained, was held to thank God for guiding Jamaica through what could have been an existential threat, particularly to the western region of the island.

Bartlett reported that approximately 80 per cent of electricity and water services across Jamaica have been restored. He also expressed gratitude to the international community for its support during the recovery period.

“We were able to say to the world, come and help us, and the world did,” he said, singling out Canadians who played a key role. Among them were Wes Hall, executive chairman and founder of WeShall Investments, and Natasha Borota, founder of The It Factor Ltd., which manages the administration of the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation.

Their support contributed to the “Harmonies of Hope” benefit concert held in Toronto on December 10, which raised nearly $2.5 million Canadian in just 10 days. Bartlett recognized the three “architects” of the concert: Angella Bennett; Donette Chin-Loy Chang, chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University; and Wes Hall, who also serves as chancellor of the University of Toronto.

In recognition of Hall’s contribution, Bartlett presented him with an autographed copy of his coffee table book, The Journey. The Service. The Man: Edmund Bartlett’s Time Capsule (1980–2022). The minister also thanked supporters from the United States, China, India, Barbados, the United Kingdom, and other countries that assisted Jamaica during its recovery.

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