‘I’ve never seen so much looting in my life’
Poko Loko CEO shocked by plunder at Beryl-ravaged attraction
Published:Thursday | July 11, 2024 | 12:10 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Anthony Warren, CEO of the Poko Loko floating bar, has been left stunned by the widespread looting that followed Hurricane Beryl’s severe damage to the attraction, but gave the assurance that it would recover “bigger and stronger” in the coming weeks.
The US$1-million (J$155-million) establishment, which was opened less than a month ago, was swept off its moorings at Mahogany Beach in Ocho Rios, St Ann, by fierce winds and the raging sea last Wednesday as the Category 4 system passed just off the south coast. It was deposited hundreds of metres away at Little Dunn’s River.
Despite the damage, the bar remained afloat but it was plundered in the aftermath.
“I’ve never seen so much looting in my life,” Warren told The Gleaner on Wednesday, a week after the disaster. “Over US$550,000 (J$86.3 million) worth of merchandise [was] looted. I have never seen anything like it,” the American said.
Although remaining tight-lipped about the estimated cost of the overall damage, Warren said that it was “extensive”, only adding that it falls in the region of “hundreds of thousands of US dollars”.
Warren stated that the original site of the business will remain unchanged and, despite the looting, he remains confident that, as soon as it reopens, there will be tremendous support.
He said that all the appropriate upgrades to security and to ensure the safety of the reopened establishment have been factored into the planned upgrades.
“We are thankful for all the prayers and genuine concern from everyone, and look forward to bringing the great project back to Ocho Rios,” he added.
On June 15, the facility was opened for business and received praise from industry players, including Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
Bartlett said at the time that Poko Loko had the potential to redefine the tourism landscape in the resort town.
The 6,000-square foot floating bar was built to offer cruise passengers, hotel guests and locals enjoyable experiences on the water while they sip cocktails and take in the warm Caribbean sun.
“For us, this is what tourism is about. It’s about people wanting new experiences. We are excited about enabling more of these kinds of activities to happen, because it drives more visitors to Jamaica,” Bartlett said at the opening.
More than 50 new jobs were created as a result of the facility’s opening.