Bartlett Opens Community Based Dive and Non-Motorized Water Sport Facility in Portland

PORT ANTONIO, Portland; July 30, 2018: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett heaped praises on the strides made by the Alligator Head Foundation, a Portland based environmental body, during the opening of a Community-based Dive and Non-Motorized Water-sport facility in Portland last Thursday.

“The mission of Alligator Head Foundation to focus on science, art, and community, in a collaborative approach to protecting fish stocks; restoring habitats and regenerating local economies, harmonies well with TEF’s commitment to environmental protection which to date stands at over $430 million to,” Minister Bartlett commented.

The Tourism Minister also took time out to commend the Alligator Head Foundation, especially its founder, Francesca Von Habsburg, for the fantastic job that they been doing to help safeguard the country’s fish population and the environment in general.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, which attracted tourism interests, stakeholders, and industry players, Minister Bartlett said the establishment of the facility was just under $19 million dollars.

“This project has been established through a collaborative effort between the Alligator Head Foundation and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) with an allocation of just under $19 million dollars,

"This enabled the construction of a floating dock, purchase of a patrol boat and a glass bottom boat, acquisition of office equipment to support administrative functions of dive operations, establishment of Special Fisheries Conservation Area (SFCA) and marketing, purchase equipment for non-motorized water craft activities and enhancement of an interpretative visitor centre,” Minister Bartlett added.

Minister Bartlett noted that Portland will continue to see an expansion in tourism facilities and growth in both cruise arrivals and stopovers. He noted that while the country is attracting big money investors, there is a need for Portlanders to get more involved in helping to build the tourism industry and their communities.