Kingston, Jamaica: July 29, 2014 - Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is scheduled to participate in several activities aimed at marketing destination Jamaica during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 3, 2014.

Minister McNeill is currently in Trinidad where he represented Jamaica at the first Japan/CARICOM Summit, which took place on Monday, July 28. He will depart Trinidad for Glasgow this afternoon (July 29).

While in Glasgow, Minister McNeill will attend a host of Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) promotional events, which are intended to promote the destination and further strengthen the close links between Scotland and Jamaica. These include two exclusive media and travel-trade client receptions and a meeting with executives from TUI Travel PLC.

The JTB has again activated the Jamaica House concept for this year's Commonwealth Games.  Jamaica House Glasgow is being hosted in Royal Exchange Square in the heart of Glasgow, and seeks to leverage the anticipated global focus on the Jamaica track and field team at this major sporting event. 

Modelled on Jamaica House, London 2012 and Jamaica House, Moscow 2013, activities for the Commonwealth Games will seek to present an alluring ‘snapshot’ of Jamaican culture, food and music, highlighting the destination both as a place to visit as well as to do business.

Tour operators Tui Travel and Virgin Holidays both credit meetings at Jamaica House at the London 2012 Olympics with their decision to increase service and investment in Jamaica.

Minister McNeill, who is being accompanied by the newly appointed Director of Tourism, Mr. Paul Pennicooke, returns to the island on Monday, August 4, 2014.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, July 23, 2014: A DNA test for her job as CNN anchor has led Michaela Pereira of Canada to Cambridge in St. James, Jamaica to unearth her genealogical roots.

“I was adopted as an infant in Canada and I always knew that one part of my heritage came from Jamaica,” she related. But she was unsure of how the connection came about. “I didn’t know if one of my parents was Canadian-Jamaica or Jamaican-Jamaica,” she said.

Now living in New York, USA, and working with CNN, she needed to do a DNA test for her job and an idea emerged. “We decided to tell the story of each of our anchors that present on air and we discovered that my roots on my paternal side came from Jamaica, but specifically from Cambridge, St. James.”

With the curiosity of Alex Haley (author of the book ‘Roots’), Mrs. Pereira decided she wanted “to connect with my roots.” That decision led her to Jamaica, supported by her husband and a film crew, and a journey to Cambridge in south St. James. She said her visit was aimed at “really looking to connect with my ancestors, place and time and contacts.”

Mrs. Pereira and her film crew did not find anyone alive who could be identified as a direct family member, but she did find some graves that offered a link with her past and she has “learnt so many interesting facts” about Jamaica.

Prior to her departure, Mrs. Pereira paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, on Saturday (July 19), at the Half Moon, A Rock Resort, and was presented with a hardbound copy of the book, “Jamaica Heritage in Pictures” produced by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and which captures captivating images of Jamaica.

 “This is my first visit to Jamaica, and I’m ashamed to say that,” she admitted, but hastened to add, “I’m here now and I can come back as many times as I want.”

Mrs. Pereira ended her four-day visit on Sunday having learned many things and praising the Jamaican people. “First of all, the thing that has struck me the most, everyone without fail; rich, poor; black, white; young old, have said welcome home and it makes me cry.

“The second thing I have learned is how beautiful and warm and welcoming Jamaicans are. Everywhere I’ve gone they greet you with a smile and a hug – and not just me, there are five people travelling with me and they welcomed everybody as if they were a member of the family. We leave with new friends,” she said beaming.

So overwhelming has been the welcome she received, Mrs. Pereira said, “I don’t feel like someone who came to visit Jamaica; I feel like Jamaican emphatically.”

Minister McNeill said “I found Mrs. Pereira’s visit very interesting and was pleased that she regarded what she has found to be so amazing. We welcome her home to Jamaica with open arms.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: Friday, July 20, 2014: Montego Bay’s Elegant Corridor is slated to be brightly lit at nights before the middle of next year, following the signing of a contract for a $248 million lighting project financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Combined with more than $4.5 million already spent on a palm tree maintenance programme for that stretch of the North Coast Highway, which runs from the Sangster International Airport round-about to Iberostar Hotel in Lilliput, this is the largest investment by the TEF in any single project in the Montego Bay area.

The contract for the lighting project, which has been awarded to Y.P. Seaton & Associates, was signed at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday, July 18, 2014. Participants in the signing ceremony included Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies.

Among the signatories were Executive Director of the TEF, Clyde Harrison and Director of Y.P. Seaton, Calvert Mundle.

Minister McNeill thanked the TEF for “the tremendous job” it has been doing and the “significant expenditure that is going into the infrastructure of the city.”

Minister McNeill underscored that, “many of these projects that we’re doing here, whether it is the cultural centre or the lighting of the Elegant Corridor, we’re doing these things as projects for Jamaicans – they benefit us first – and our visitors who come will also benefit from them.” He added that “it is important that we understand that tourism generates the funds, through the TEF, to undertake these projects which benefit us as Jamaicans.”

The TEF is funded by a fee paid by visitors traveling to Jamaica via airline and cruise ship

Minister Davies welcomed the funding support provided by the TEF for the project. He noted that “over time, this stretch of road has become a safety concern for pedestrians and motorists alike due to speeding along the corridor and the absence of street lights to improve night time visibility.”

The use of solar lights was being considered as an option but Dr. Davies disclosed that no bids were received based on the use of that energy source. LED lamps will be used instead and assurance has been given that for the eight-month duration of the contract, the flow of traffic along the 17 km (10.5 miles) corridor will not be affected and there should be minimal damage to the road surface.

The National Works Agency (NWA) will be monitoring the execution of the contract and consideration has been given to implementing it in phases so that users of the highway will not have to await its completion to start benefiting from the lights.

It was also noted that, soil tests were conducted earlier this year by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries along the entire length of the Elegant Corridor to determine the reason why palm trees in the area were dying, as well as to determine the best recommendation for the treatment of the soil where the palms are planted.

Subsequently, 60 additional palms have been replaced and are being maintained.

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, Thursday, July 17, 2014: The variety and vibrancy of Jamaica’s cultural expressions are being packaged to promote the destination to worldwide tourism markets as the land of not merely sun, sea, and sand but excellent entertainment.

The innovative summer entertainment programme branded as “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” was launched at the picturesque Sandals Royal Caribbean Island in Montego Bay yesterday (July 16) by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, and endorsed by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

Minister of State in the ministry, the Hon. Damion Crawford, said, “entertainment is the aspect of culture that is capable of being sold and we have a culture that is so dominant in so many aspects.” He said the tagline for ‘Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways’ reflected the fact that “Jamaica offers a multiplicity of ways to enjoy the country”. The concept, therefore, is to use entertainment to attract visitors to the island between May 15 and August 15 each year to address the traditional dip in arrivals between the winter and fall seasons.

Minister Crawford said Jamrock Summer will capitalize on all genres of Jamaican cultural expression – ‘90 Days, 90 Ways’ includes parties, music, sports, culinary, literary arts and other events to entice everyone to experience the country in a special way. That is, 90 ways over 90 days, segmented into nine 10-day series of events. These will leverage Jamaica’s entertainment offering and complement existing events such as Sumfest to offer added value.

Minister Crawford also pointed out that “at the macro-level entertainment is an industry with many linkages,” adding that, “if we can have Jamrock Summer drawing 20,000 people in the next five years many other areas of the economy would benefit and develop.” He noted, however, that while government will facilitate the promotion, it was expected that the private sector would play its role as promoter.

He explained that although the initiative will include various types of music festivals, culinary, sports, fashion and other cultural offerings, reggae would be a central cog around which Jamrock Summer is built.

With the worldwide acceptance of Jamaica’s music from ska through reggae and dance hall, Minister Crawford said the success of “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” would also offer the added advantage of underscoring the fact that Jamaica is the home of reggae, despite attempts by other countries to present it as if it is their own. “We want to have the largest reggae show; our largest reggae show is ranked 19^th in the world. You can’t be the home of reggae and be ranked 19^th. We’re also seeking to protect the name reggae and we’ll be giving a stamp for authentic reggae.”

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill also expressed his full support for “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways”.  He stated, “for years people have seen Jamaica as a place that you can escape to during the winter; now we are providing the ideal destination where you can go and enjoy the summer in a myriad of ways. This initiative forms part of our ongoing effort to provide more unique and exciting things for our visitors to do and to give them a more authentic Jamaican experience.”

He commended Minister Crawford, Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, Kingsley Cooper, and his team for creating the concept, and lauded the support of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

President of the JHTA, Nicola Madden-Greig, said, “it’s something that we are all passionate about” and her association saw it as “an absolutely positive thing for Jamaica.  All the JHTA’s resort areas are very excited (and) we will be working with promoters in different areas to make sure that we help to market the initiative.” She also anticipates that association members will put together “really good rates so that persons can take advantage of all the activities that will be offered.”

To maximize exposure and reach “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” will be supported by a social and traditional media network promotion, including an interactive website.

Kingston, Jamaica: July 17, 2014 – Effective Friday July 18, 2014 the operation of private Personal Water Crafts (PWCs) will be re-opened across the island for licensed PWC users. This after an island-wide ban was imposed in February to allow for the regularization of the commercial operations; and for steps to be taken by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) to register all PWCs or jet-skis in the island.

The general ban was among a raft of measures announced to streamline both private and commercial PWC operations. The measures were applied in the wake of three accidents involving PWCs between August 2013 and January 2014. In announcing the ban in Parliament in February, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill had indicated that the suspension of the operations will be lifted in each area as the relevant measures and regulations are implemented and persons become compliant.

Over the last few months the MAJ has spearheaded a process to register all PWCs islandwide.To date, 90 private and 29 commercial vessels have been registered.

A Task Force was established as one of the measures to bring PWC activity under stronger management and enforcement. The PWC Task Force is being guided by the MAJ and  the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), with enforcement by the Marine Police Division.

The announcement to reopen the operation of private PWCs was made following a recent meeting of the task force. The move follows the recent reopening of the operation of commercial PWCs at the UDC beach in Ocho Rios Bay, St. Ann on June 2, 2014. However the ban on the importation of PWCs will remain in place until further notice.

Minister McNeill said “guided by the recommendation of the Task Force, it was determined that the suspension of private PWC operations  for licensed PWC users should now be lifted, as adequate measures and regulations have been put in place.” He added that “the owners and operators of private and commercial launch sites will be required to inform the MAJ of these sites to facilitate the effective monitoring of the activities across the island.”

A launch site refers to an area on the foreshore (a channel between 20 and 40 metres wide) through which PWCs are permitted to leave and return.  PWCs will be launched from such sites in accordance with specific guidelines and recommendations which include - the existence of a ramp or other suitable area for the safe launching of the PWC and erection of prescribed signage.

Launch sites will not be established in close proximity to high risk areas such as places where members of the public customarily swim. These include the Blue Lagoon (Portland), licensed beaches, public bathing beaches including in Negril, Montego Bay and Hellshire Beach, where PWC operations will be prohibited.

The Minister explained that “private PWC operation will also be allowed at Lime Cay and Maiden Cay, where temporary measures will be put in place to facilitate PWC activity, while some remaining concerns including issues related to launch sites are addressed.”

Upon registration, PWC operators are issued with registration certificates and decals which have been provided in two colour codes, to differentiate between private and commercial crafts.

Private PWC use will be allowed under the following conditions:

1. PWCs must be registered and have the appropriate decals affixed (PWCs not possessing private decals will be liable for detention by the authorities)
2. PWCs that are registered for private use cannot be utilized commercially
3. All operators of PWCs must have received training in the operation of the vessel from the MAJ
4. PWC’s must be issued with valid small vessel safety certificates which will reflect the following:

• PWCs are permitted to operate in daylight hours only and shall not be operable between sunset and sunrise
• PWCs should enter and leave the shore at a slow speed of 3 knots
• Occupants of PWCs must wear life vests at all times and the area of operation is at least 200m from the shore.

5. PWCs must not be refueled at sea
6. PWCs must observe the collision (at sea) regulations

Minister McNeill also indicated that steps are being taken to facilitate the reopening of PWC operations in other areas including Negril, adding that as the task force moves ahead to regularize operations in these areas, consultations will be held with the relevant stakeholders including a meeting which will be held in Negril next week.

MONTEGO BAY, St. James: July 13, 2014: The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has invested over $100 million in the creation of Montego Bay’s first cultural centre.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, disclosed at the official opening of the Montego Bay Cultural Centre (MBCC) in the historic Sam Sharpe Square on Friday (July 11), that to date the TEF has contributed some $109 million to its development.

The Minister also hinted that more was in store for the square which has played an important role in several stages of national development. The former civic centre stands on the site of the old courthouse. In 1832, it was in that very court house that the trial of national hero, the Rt. Excellent Samuel Sharpe and hundreds of other slaves, who were accused in the slave rebellion of December 1831, were conducted.

Labelling it “an iconic spot in its own right,” Minister McNeill said, “discussions are already underway involving the parish council, the TEF, owners of businesses in the area and other stakeholders to transform Sam Sharpe Square into the architectural jewel I know it has the potential to become.”

With details to be worked out, Minister McNeill said this will be a major logistic and planning undertaking, but given the status of the square in national life “it certainly has the potential to be an attraction in its own right.” He has urged civic leaders and private sector interests to support this initiative.

Originally named Charles Square, the city’s commercial centre was later renamed Sam Sharpe Square in honour of Samuel Sharpe, whose life was taken on the gallows in the square for his leading role in the rebellion. A monument to the hero and the many other slaves who were also hung graces the square beside the building known as The Cage, which during that era, was used as a slave lock up.

Minister McNeill lauded the pivotal role other ministers, government officials, as well as public and private sector entities played in transforming the facility into Montego Bay’s long desired cultural centre. He noted that “over the years there have been cries from the people of Montego Bay for the transformation of the city into; not merely a tourism centre which focuses on sun, sea and sand, but a cultural tourism centre.” The Minister added that “people also want to see visible signs that represent the city’s contribution to tourism and the Tourism Enhancement Fund has been responding in a very big way.”

He asserted that the TEF is dedicated to fulfilling its mission “of promoting growth and development in the tourism sector, recognizing that tourism does not exist in a vacuum but is closely linked to various other sectors important to national development and improving the quality of life of Jamaicans.”

The Montego Bay Cultural Centre will house the National Gallery West, National Museum West, facilities for the performing arts and a bistro and will also have a gift shop and an artisan village. These are complemented by an impressive cenotaph bearing the names of slaves who were killed in the 1831 rebellion.

Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 8, 2014: A process of transformation is underway in the resort city of Montego Bay, driven by funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund. The former civic centre in Sam Sharpe Square exemplifies this process as it becomes the Montego Bay Cultural centre housing the National Art Gallery West, a museum, a space for the performing arts and a bistro. The centre will be officially opened to the public on Friday, July 11.

Through its funding of this and other developments that enhance the city’s character and preserve its cultural heritage, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is assisting Montego Bay’s civic leadership in achieving a transformation of the city.

In the past year alone, the TEF has underwritten several multi-million projects in Montego Bay. The list includes conversion of the Civic Centre, restoration and beautification of the historical Dome, and renovation of the Harbour Street and Fort craft markets.

Close attention is also being given to the city’s landscape and to this end the TEF is also funding beautification of the AGS Coombs Highway (Bogue Road) and Montego Bay’s Elegant Corridor which spans the hotel development area.

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) performs the role of implementing agency for these projects and where appropriate, partners with other agencies, among them the St. James Parish Council, the National Works Agency and Western Parks and Markets with oversight by the Montego Bay Resort Board.

A Montego Bay Arts Council chaired by hotelier Josef Forstmayr is monitoring the $42 million conversion of the Civic Centre to give the resort city two new art galleries and its own museum displaying artefacts mounted by the Institute of Jamaica and the National Heritage Trust.

In a complementary move, the TEF has partnered with the parish council in a $9-million rehabilitation of The Dome, preserving it as a landmark of Montego Bay’s first domestic water supply source. The spring from which the water sprang, was discovered by two little girls chasing a crab over 200 years ago. The sound of a splash as the crab bolted into a hole under a huge rock alerted the children who took the good news into their community.

TEF is an arm of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and according to the minster, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, the agency’s funds are being expended on areas such as Montego Bay because “we need to ensure that our product is the best it can be.” He is cognizant that “to be competitive you have to be constantly upgrading that product.”

Minister McNeill is also clear that “What makes us different is our culture and heritage.”

It is with this in mind that the projects being funded by the TEF have been approved and are being implemented.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris is pleased with the impact the TEF has been making on the city and looks forward to a continued partnership.

“Montego Bay being the tourism capital of the Caribbean the Tourism Enhancement Fund is truly enhancing the tourism product here in Montego Bay and St. James on a whole. Some well needed injection has been given by the TEF and we have to say a big thanks to  the Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the chairman the TEF, the executive director and his team; they are truly partners in bringing Montego Bay to the level that it ought to be at,” says Mayor Harris.

Going forward, Mayor Harris says “this partnership can only grow from strength to strength. What we have been doing is utilising the fund to the best of our ability to avoid any waste and any overruns so that we ensure value for money. “

He is also particularly pleased that while the Fund targets tourism related areas, it seeks to ensure that there is benefit for the local people and to that end, disclosed that tender is out for design of the development of Providence Beach Park “so they are really looking out for the resort areas and for the people in the area to make them comfortable because if they are not, the tourist will not be comfortable either.”

Lloyd B. Smith, Member of Parliament for St. James Central which encompasses a large portion of Montego Bay, notes, “Overall, I think that the interest in terms of the actualization of these very meaningful projects will help to enhance the aesthetics of Montego Bay as well as to provide a certain level of civic pride and indeed economic empowerment in the case of the craft markets and the civic centre which will create job opportunity.”

Smith adds, however, that a certain amount of public consultation and education should accompany these projects so that people can have a greater level of appreciation for them and protect them from vandalism or unnecessary anti-social behaviour because we have seen in the past when we establish these structures and these entities, that they do not enjoy the full support of the citizenry who may just see them as governments and certain people benefitting by way of getting a contract or a job but they do not look at the bigger picture of what these projects will do in enhancing the socio-economic and cultural life of the city.”

In that context, Smith says it is up to the citizens “to ensure that we get value for money.” He adds, “As Member of Parliament one of my concerns taxpayers money must be well spent; too often we have seen overrun or short cut measures so when the project is completed you do not get what you really had anticipated. So I think it’s important as a community that we monitor these projects and ensure that at the end of the day we get value for money and what were the objectives are in fact achieved.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: Wednesday, July 2, 2014: Efforts to bolster destination Jamaica’s standing in the global arena have received a major boost with the move by Southwest Airlines to choose Jamaica as the destination for its inaugural flight, as it rolled out its international service yesterday (July 1).

In welcoming Southwest Airlines to Jamaican soil Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill said it signals the start of a partnership that will increase Jamaica’s penetration of the US tourism source market. As the largest carrier of domestic passengers in the US, Southwest covers 48 States and links Jamaica through four major gateways.

Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board and Southwest Airlines at the Half Moon, A Rock Resort, on Tuesday, Minister McNeill lauded the airline’s success. He noted that having started as a small regional carrier in 1971, the fact that Southwest has grown to become the largest carrier of domestic passengers in the USA, is a major achievement.

The Minister expressed joy at the fact that having succeeded in the US domestic market, Southwest in entering the international travel market chose Jamaica as its first international destination. “I think it is something that all of us as Jamaicans should take great pride in,” said Dr. McNeill, adding that “you could have chosen to go anywhere else in the world but you chose Jamaica, which is truly a vote of confidence in our magnificent destination.”

Minister McNeill said with 63 percent of all visitors to Jamaica coming out of US gateways, “we need to ensure that we remain strong in that market; now with Southwest as the strongest domestic carrier in the United States, it opens up the entire market and allows Jamaica to expand across the length and breadth of the United States.”

Dr. McNeill explained that Jamaica has already recorded one million stopover visitors for 2014, adding that with additional airlift the country was poised to surpass the historic two million stopover visitor milestone achieved last year.

The inaugural flight from Baltimore to Montego Bay, one of three for the day, brought in some 145 passengers; many of them repeat visitors to the island.

Senior Director of International Business Management at Southwest Airlines, John Kirby, said the airline has had 41 years of profitability with last year being the most profitable. He outlined a significant growth strategy for Southwest, including acquisition of new aircraft which will increase its fleet by 45 percent come November and add some 650 seats to flights into Jamaica.

Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited, which operates the Sangster International Airport, Anthony Alicastro hailed the arrival of Southwest Airlines to Jamaica as a major development. “Often in events such as these we try to overstate the importance of an inaugural flight, this is not the case today; today is a really big deal in the aviation world. When the US largest domestic carrier decides to venture overseas it’s a big deal,” he said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica: June 25, 2014: Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, today announced  that the Ministry will be strengthening its partnership with  the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET)  in undertaking a $34 million environmental awareness initiative called the ‘Clean Coasts Project’.  

The one-year project, funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF),  is intended to encourage Jamaicans to engage in sustained clean up activities throughout the year instead of on just one day. Currently, the Ministry and its agencies partner with JET to promote  and execute annual  International Coastal Cleanup Day activities throughout the island.

Minister McNeill made the announcement to an audience of  students, teachers and environmental stakeholders at JET’s 2014 awards ceremony for the Jamaica Environmental Action Awards (JEAA) and the Schools’ Environment Programme (SEP), held today, June 25, 2014, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

“The programme has evolved out of the need to encourage sustained behaviour change among Jamaicans and our visitors alike to issues relating to marine litter,” Minister McNeill noted in outlining components of the project. The programme has two components: land-based and underwater.

The land-based component will target 10 – 15 schools in resort areas as well as adult education.  The project is also expected to form synergies with the JET’s Schools’ Environment Programme (SEP) –which already uses the curricula in schools to spread the message of environmental stewardship. It will also work in tandem with our Tourism Action Clubs, which are in schools islandwide, and other applicable groups. 

Tourism stakeholders will be included in the selection of the schools, which are to be recruited over the summer and sensitized to ensure their readiness to participate beginning in September 2014.

The underwater component will comprise the co-ordination of 32 dives across select resorts to clean up underwater environments and will engage stakeholders such as fisher-folks in communities to ensure their involvement in the project.

Heavy emphasis will be placed on mitigation as the effect of garbage that is washed from gullies and drains during the rainy season will be reduced by routine cleaning. Cleaning will also be done at the start of the winter tourist season.  The project will be supported by a public education campaign and community consultations to obtain buy-in and participation.

Minister McNeill called on the support of Jamaica’s students and encouraged them to play their part by not littering their surroundings.“For programmes of this nature to succeed we need the support of every Jamaican. We all need to be more responsible in how we dispose of our garbage to reduce the amount of garbage which ends up in our harbours and along our coastlines due to dumping in our gullies and drains,” he added.

Commending JET and its encourage the protection of our environment and by extension our tourism product, Minister McNeill said, “We at the Ministry are very serious about protecting the environment and JET is one of our key allies in the fight against environmental degradation.”