TALKING POINTS FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM HON. EDUMUND BARTLETT, CD, MP AT THE 279th ACCOMPONG MAROON FESTIVAL ACCOMPONG, ST. ELIZABETH FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017

Salutations:

·       Colleague Ministers:

o   Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

o   Hon. JC Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries

·       Mayor of Black River, His Worship Derrick Sangster

·       Mayor of Lucea, His Worship  Sheridan Samuels

·       Former Mayor of Black River,  Councillor Everton Fisher

·       Councillor, Ipswich Division, Mr. Prince Mugabe Waite

·       Political Ombudsman, Hon. Donna Parchment Brown

·       Colonel Ferron Williams and other Maroon Elders

·       Members of the Media

·       Ladies and Gentlemen

INTRODUCTION

·       I am honoured to have been invited to be a part of this wonderful festival of the Accompong Maroons, as you commemorate the 279^th anniversary of victory and freedom and celebrate the birthday of your revered leader Captain Cudjoe.

·       The Maroons of Accompong have a proud, centuries-old history which celebrates a rich African ancestry and a vibrant community centred on the spirit of family.

·       This annual festival is more than a celebration of the historic victory of the maroons over the British in the First Maroon War and the subsequent peace treaty signed in 1739, which still holds today.

·       This great event opens the window for the many thousands of locals and tourists who flock to your mountain settlement each year to immerse themselves in the rich life, culture and history of the heroic Maroons through music, dance, storytelling, craft and food.

·       I commend the members of the Accompong community for protecting and preserving their rich heritage and cultural practices. It gives me great pride to witness your continuing efforts to build on the legacy of Cudjoe and the many other Maroon leaders and keep their memories alive.

·       Our diverse culture, the warm spirit of the Jamaican people, our music, our food are an integral part of our national identity and has significantly contributed to the global reach of Brand Jamaica. It is what attracts visitors to our beautiful island and keeps them coming back again and again.

·       Knowing this, at the Ministry of Tourism we are putting in place initiatives to ensure the Jamaican culture is being fully utilised to develop the tourism industry.

CULTURAL TOURISM

·       There is a strong link between culture and tourism, and as you look around I am sure you will agree that Jamaica's rich natural, historical and cultural heritage is quite evident here today.

·       According the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), one of the pillars of the tourism industry is mankind's inherent desire to see and learn about the cultural identity of different parts of the world.

·       The UNWTO estimates that heritage and cultural tourism accounts for 40% of international tourism. It is one of the most popular forms of tourism with a growth rate that is even faster than that of global tourism.

·       It is sites like Accompong Town that persons are increasingly seeking to visit as tourists search for a more authentic Jamaican experience and as our own Jamaicans too become more conscious of our history.

·       It provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the ‘real’ Jamaica as they interact with local citizens, discover local habitats and attractions, and sample local cuisine. 

·       With activities such as the traditional ceremony under the Kindah Tree which honours Maroon ancestors; the Peace Cave, where the Accompong peace treaty was signed by Colonel Cudjoe; and town museum, which holds an assortment of excavated relics, traditional musical instruments and details of ceremonial practices – there is so much to experience and learn here.

·       Cultural tourism, particularly at the regional and local levels, can have a positive impact.  It contributes to the growth of the local economy; creates new jobs; strengthens local identity; contributes to the economization of cultural monuments; and at the same time strengthens the attractiveness and competitiveness of the destination.

·       This diversity is critical as we seek to meet the growth targets of attracting 5 million visitors and earn 5 billion US dollars over five years, which I have set for the sector.

PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE

·       Against this background, our Ministry and its Agencies have implemented initiatives to enhance the visitor experience while giving our own people a greater appreciation of their history.

·       The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has committed substantial resources to the restoration and preservation of Jamaica’s built heritage and, in doing so, has created a richer and more diverse product for visitors to our island to enjoy.

·       The Jamaican people too have benefitted from the preservation of these heritage sites, by being able to see, touch and experience our history.

·       Since inception, TEF has committed some one billion Jamaican dollars to the preservation of heritage and cultural sites across the island, including the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, the Rio Nuevo battle site, the Devon House mansion and Seville great House, to name a few.

·       Accompong too has been the beneficiary of financial and project management assistance from our agencies – the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and TEF, which have helped in the development of this historic settlement over the years.

·       In the late 1990’s, TPDCo and the Accompong Maroons signed a two-year memorandum of understanding through which we assisted in the development of the tourism product of Accompong town. 

·       During this time, TPDCo applied a holistic approach to this project, whereby the physical product; training needs and accommodation, namely homestay products, were developed.  Some of the developments are as follows:

o   Physical Works

1.    The entrance was enhanced with the construction of gate post with an abeng on each post

2.    Signage was established on site

3.    Male and female public restrooms were built (since destroyed)

4.    The community centre was enhanced

o   Training

1.    Community members received Team Jamaica training

2.    Community members received tour guide training and certification

3.    Uniforms were given to the tour guides

o   Homestays

1.    Homestay accommodations were developed along standards and quality guidelines under the guidance of  TPDCo

·       In December 2014, TPDCo was approached by Deputy Colonel Mrs. Norma Rowe Edwards who indicated that they wished to have their eco/heritage/community tourism enterprise licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board.  TPDCo conducted a consultation visit with other relevant agencies and then prepared a detailed consultation report guiding Accompong on the steps toward JTB licensing.

·       More recently TEF committed $9.2 million for repairs to the roadway from New Holland to Accompong.  I am pleased to inform you that this project, managed by TPDCo in collaboration with the National Works Agency, was completed in December 2016.

·       I understand the importance of having good roads in rural communities, especially for you in this community because you have a major attraction up here. 

·       We will continue to work closely with Accompong to ensure that this historic town realizes its full potential as a sustainable tourism site that generates benefits for both visitors and community members.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

·       There is no doubt that our island continues to be one of the highest performing destinations in the region, and heritage sites like Accompong Town and cultural festivals like the one we are experiencing today will certainly help us to maintain our position as a world class visitor destination.

·       Developing a diverse and innovative product is essential for tourism to remain viable. For this reason, we will continue to develop and market cultural attractions like Accompong in order to meet our targets to attract five million visitors by 2021; generate $5 billion in tourism earnings, increase the total direct jobs to 125,000 and add 15,000 new hotel rooms.

·       I am pleased to inform you that 2016 was an exceptional year for local tourism. Jamaica registered record stopover arrivals during the Christmas season, with history-making numbers of 60,886 tourists visiting the island between December 22 and 28. The latest numbers mark an 11.1 per cent increase over the same period in 2015, putting the country on track for significant growth in 2017.

·       In line with the growth in arrivals, gross earnings from January to November is US$2.26 billion, or 6.2 per cent over the same period in 2015, putting us firmly on track to surpass all previous records.

·       So you can see that the industry is doing well and great things are on the horizon for Jamaica’s tourism sector.

CONCLUSION

·       In closing, I wish to commend Colonel Ferron Williams and his team for their great work in organizing this annual celebration of Maroon history, which adds a broader dimension to Jamaica’s cultural tourism offerings.

·       I wish you a good and successful festival.

Thank you.