标签： Jamaica

The world-renowned Bath Fountain Hotel and Spa in St. Thomas, Jamaica, faces a severe operational crisis as aggressive informal tour operators increasingly undermine its operations and reputation. According to the hotel’s recently tabled 2021/22 annual report, former chairman Michael McLeod detailed how pandemic conditions exacerbated a long-standing problem with unlicensed touts whose numbers swelled to approximately 120 by December 2021.

During the COVID-19 lockdown periods, these operators became notably more assertive in their attempts to solicit business, employing destructive strategies that included intercepting potential patrons as far away as Port Morant. They systematically disseminated misinformation claiming the hotel’s mineral waters were reheated rather than naturally sourced, or falsely stating that bath facilities were closed with only restaurants and rooms operational.

The touts operate primarily from the hotel’s overflow parking lot, diverting visitors to an unregulated ‘bush spa’ behind the property where they perform unauthorized massages, mud baths, and foot scrubs while aggressively haggling over prices. This uninsured, price-gouging operation has created significant liability issues for the hotel, as dissatisfied customers increasingly seek redress from the establishment for their negative experiences with unauthorized vendors.

McLeod emphasized that despite the hotel’s successful adaptation to pandemic protocols—including hosting a group of volunteers within COVID-19 guidelines in June 2021—the proliferation of touts threatens to destroy the historic facility’s goodwill. While the Ministry of Tourism under Edmund Bartlett developed strategies to support the tourism sector during the pandemic, the informal operators exploited these circumstances to their advantage.

Despite temporary revenue recovery through extended group bookings, the fundamental challenge persists. Historical records indicate this problem has plagued Bath Fountain for over a decade, with visitors documenting similar experiences as early as 2011. Recent observations confirm the situation remains unresolved, with touts continuing to intercept potential visitors traveling considerable distances to reach the attraction.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s education system faces a significant challenge in restoring regular school attendance following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, with the most severely affected parishes reporting attendance rates as low as 72%. Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon revealed these concerning figures during a Senate session on Friday, highlighting particular difficulties in engaging teenage male students who have prioritized supporting their families’ recovery efforts over education.

The statistical breakdown illustrates the hurricane’s disruptive impact across different regions. Region 4, encompassing the hardest-hit parishes of St. James, Westmoreland, and Hanover, demonstrates the most pronounced attendance decline at just 72%. Region 2, comprising Portland, St. Thomas, and St. Mary, maintains an 80% attendance rate, while Region 3 (St. Ann and Trelawny) reports 82% attendance. These figures remain substantially below pre-hurricane levels despite the official resumption of classes on January 14.

Minister Morris Dixon identified a troubling pattern of absenteeism particularly concentrated among adolescent males. ‘The situation is especially acute with our teenage boys who are opting to assist their families with reconstruction rather than attend school,’ she explained to legislators. ‘When they witness their homes destroyed, helping their families becomes their immediate priority, displacing educational commitments.’

The Ministry of Education has implemented a multi-faceted response strategy involving guidance counselors working collaboratively with community institutions, including churches, to emphasize education’s importance while addressing practical recovery needs. The ministry systematically tracks attendance weekly, recognizing from pandemic-era data that extended absences dramatically increase the risk of permanent school dropout.

‘While current numbers remain unsatisfactory, our meticulous tracking enables targeted intervention,’ Morris Dixon stated. ‘Our guidance counselors are actively visiting communities to locate and re-engage absent students, understanding that deliberate, sustained effort is essential to prevent long-term educational disruption.’

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s road safety landscape presented a complex picture in the final quarter of 2025, with the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) reporting 81 fatalities resulting from 68 separate fatal collisions occurring between October and December. While the overall figures indicate a downward trend in road deaths, certain user groups and parishes experienced concerning increases.

The geographical distribution of fatalities revealed significant disparities across the island. St. Catherine Parish emerged as the most dangerous region, recording a distressing 22 deaths. It was followed by St. Elizabeth, often called the nation’s breadbasket, with 12 fatalities, and St. Ann with nine. Manchester and Westmoreland parishes each reported seven deaths, while St. Thomas and St. James recorded four fatalities apiece. Portland stood out as the safest jurisdiction with zero fatalities during the three-month monitoring period.

Comparative analysis with the same quarter in 2024 showed a 6% reduction in total fatalities and an 11% decrease in the number of fatal crashes. However, this overall improvement masked troubling trends among specific road user categories. Motorcyclists remained particularly vulnerable, accounting for 28 deaths (35% of all fatalities), though this represented a 13% improvement from 2024.

Conversely, private motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians both experienced 7% increases in fatalities compared to the previous year. Drivers accounted for 16 deaths (20% of total fatalities), while pedestrians represented 15 deaths (19% of the total).

The data revealed a pronounced gender disparity, with males comprising 85% of all fatalities compared to 15% for females. Most concerning was the statistic showing that vulnerable road users—including pedestrians, motorcyclists, pillion passengers, and pedalcyclists—collectively accounted for 57% of all deaths during the review period.