Font Hill to be Divested for Development
Again the question arises, development or conservation?
The government of Jamaica has just announced its intention to divest Font Hill for “development”, apparantly to allow for the construction of another large Spanish owned hotel.
We’ve all heard the arguments both pro and con these “big Spanish hotels”. Those in favor argue that they bring much needed employment and economic development to a community, those against complain that the so called “jobs and economic development” really means extremely low paying jobs and a high degree of environmental damage.
Font Hill is now on the auction blocks…what’s your view?
For the full story see Font Hill property to be divested.
See also facebook page to save Font Hill.
For more about Font Hill, see YardEdge post.
The Author
4 Comments
Does Ja. really need another hotel ??? Enough is enough !! When all is said & done, Ja. will be left with many empty hotels. Keep destroying the wetlands, polluting the sea, killing & robbing each other, & nobody will want to visit. More focus should be placed on manufacturing & farming, not a fickle market like tourism.
@ Charles “The Spanish government is in the process of demolishing some of these mega hotels and reclaiming the lost habitat.”
How exactly does one do that? Nothing less than a feat of magic and a long, long swath of time can do that. Money can’t buy either.
I think the language of the environmental conservation movement needs to be overhauled. First of all, if you can’t speak to and get past the false dichotomy of environment vs. jobs/employment/development, then this is a no-go.
For example, what does “low-paying jobs” really mean in Jamaica where that’s what many people have had to subsist on for decades? Say what you need to say, say it plainly and let people understand rather than feel like they are on the outside looking in. Give people something to sink their teeth into and be able to see and talk about without having to turn to the “experts.” Enough of the jargon – divestment does not say anything that “sell off to private owners and foreigners” won’t.
Personally, the spanish investors (do you know for sure that these are gov’t property? are gov’ts allowed to purchase our land under different terms than private investors?) should be banned from acquiring or building any more on our land because of all the problems they created before. That is major information to stop or turn around this latest endeavour.
greeeeeeeat article.kudos..the environmental cost will be huge…im from mandeville and went to Munro college in st.elizabeth..this is very close to home for me..
A balance has to be struck between sustainable development and preservation of the environment. The Spanish government is in the process of demolishing some of these mega hotels and reclaiming the lost habitat. Construction of these hotels means employment and dollars in the short term, but after the environment is degraded, will tourists want to visit? I Think not.