US Coast Guard vessel visit to boost Ocho Rios coffers

Mayor of St Ann's Bay Michael Belnavis says the docking of the United States Coast Guard cutter Resolute in Ocho Rios for three days last week will impact positively on the resort area's economy. The shipped arrived on Thursday.

"The economic impact is significant because there are 75 sailors on board," Belnavis told The Gleaner on Thursday.

"They will be allowed off the ship to go and spend some time at the bars, the cafes, the attractions, the duty-free shops, the supermarkets. They're not here on any particular assignment, they're here as tourists. It's a significant impact and we're happy to have this level of tourism brought to Ocho Rios."

Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Raggio, senior defence official and defence attache at the US Embassy, in explaining the purpose of the visit, said: "The primary purpose is for logistical purposes and also for moral welfare and recreation; but this is just a part of a larger military deployment going on in the Caribbean as well that I'm not going to comment on."

Raggio said the visit would also directly impact the economy of Ocho Rios.

Opportunity

"The ship spends a significant amount of money on other services that the mayor mentioned, but there is also an opportunity for the spouses and friends and family members of the sailors to come to Ocho Rios from the United States, wherever, to stay in local hotels for a night or two."

On Thursday, the vessel welcomed the mayor, councillors and administrative staff at the St Ann Municipal Corporation; Senior Superintendent Michael Smith, head of the St Ann Police Division, and students and teachers from the Ocho Rios Primary School.