Ocho Rios clean-up day: Community unites to restore civic pride ahead of winter tourist season
Published:Saturday | December 14, 2024 | 12:05 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
ST ANN:
The Destination Assurance Council (DAC) and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) are collaborating with several local organisations for an Ocho Rios clean-up day, scheduled for tomorrow.
Key partners in the initiative include the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Ocho Rios/Runaway Bay Chapter, the St Ann Municipal Corporation, the St Ann Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Bauxite Mines, and the Office of the Custos of St Ann.
The clean-up, which coincides with the start of Jamaica’s winter tourist season, will run from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Clifton Reader, vice president of Palace Resorts for Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, and one of the initiative’s key organisers, emphasised that the project is aimed primarily at locals.
“We are cleaning up the town, not necessarily for the tourists but for the locals; we’re trying to bring back civic pride into Ocho Rios,” Reader told The Gleaner.
The town has been divided into seven zones, plus the market area, with each zone assigned to multiple companies and organisations. A total of 21 groups, along with the St Ann Municipal Corporation, have committed to making the clean-up a success.
Reader highlighted some focus areas, such as removing redundant wires from utility poles, estimated to be around 40 per cent of the total, and reaching out to cable companies and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for assistance. Private property owners will also be contacted, and paint companies are being approached to donate supplies for building renovations.
“The educational part of the plan will involve foundations to help with long-term strategies,” Reader added.
Participants in the clean-up effort include banks, government agencies, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, supermarkets, the Justices of the Peace Association, and Cool Corp. Their responsibilities will span general clean-up, beautification, and long-term maintenance, while the St Ann Municipal Corporation will oversee the market area.
This collaborative initiative aims to restore the beauty and pride of Ocho Rios for residents and visitors alike.