The high cost of the Negril welcome sign
The $12 million Negril welcome sign was not welcomed by the public after its unveiling on 9 September by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and other dignitaries. People took to social media stating that the money could have been put to better use, as the country has other economic issues.
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) data shows that in 2018 Jamaica had 4.32 billion tourists and earned up to $3.10 billion. The Gross National Product for the island was 19.70 per cent. Figures for the year 2019-2021 were not readily available but, according to Bartlett, Negril earned close to $1 billion in tourism in 2019. Tourism is one of Jamaica’s main sources of earning and Bartlett expects that this sign will help to attract more tourists to Negril with additional foot traffic.
Members of the public have been making videos of people knocking the sign using captions like ‘scrap metal’ and ‘tin can’. ‘We can buy a house and a car and leave change to
have fun’, said Marlene Hendricks, resident of St Ann, ‘that sign is the least of my problem’. Senior strategist from the tourism ministry, Delano Seiveright, said the money was not taken from tax payers’ dollars but had been paid for by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). ‘The sign goes beyond the letters’, said Sevieright as he defended the value of the sign by highlighting that it had laybys, highway tension structures, retaining wall, solar lights for night lighting and landscaping. The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) was a part of the project. They hope that the sign will invite more tourists for photo experiences and, at the same time, enhanced the beauty of the place.
The ‘Welcome to Montego Bay’ sign was unveiled in 2019. It cost approximately $14.78 million dollars and, at that time as well, Bartlett defended the cost of the sign saying its value is due to the longevity and sustainability of the sign. The funds came from two sources – $9.78 million came from the government and donations from the private sector added up to $5 million.
Fast-forward to 2022, Delroy Williams, Mayor of Kingston said the Kingston and
St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has been working on a
welcome sign for the capital city since 2017 to be placed at the Waterfront.
