Businessman appeals for entertainment hub in Portland

Portland businessman Telief ‘Peter’ Hall is calling for more to be done to promote the parish as an entertainment hub for both tourists and locals.

Hall, who operates Roots 21 restaurant and Cristal nightclub, says that the move could create or revive night entertainment, especially on weekends, attract even more tourists and locals to the parish, provided there is good-quality, clean entertainment.

“Let’s face it, Portland will never see the kind of tourism it once enjoyed in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, when we were the envy of the Caribbean. Back then, we had cruise ships in port every day and a (Jamaica Producers) banana ship at the Boundbrook Wharf. Those days, the town was booming with excitement and nightclubs, including Mango Tree, Roof, Tunnel 54, Club 22, Blue Jays, and Accompong in Port Antonio attracted locals and tourists, not just on weekends, but also during the week.

“But what was commendable was the fact that sustainable employment was provided to the people of this parish and many were able to gain employment later on overseas and on cruise ships as a result of the experience gained by them. From what I have observed, especially since the post-COVID-19 era, entertainment is in high demand and it could be the catalyst for sustainable employment for many in a parish like Portland. When I do Sunup, which is a breakfast party, I employ no less than 70 persons directly and/or indirectly,” he added.

During the 1970s up to the late 1990s, Port Antonio was flooded with cruise ships daily, including the likes of Boheme, Star Ward, Nordic Prince, Sun Viking, South Ward, and Vera Cruz, which, as a result, provided employment and income for tourism industry players and other interests.

However, with the Port Antonio harbour unable to accommodate mega liners, tourism in the resort town has taken a nosedive.

It is against that background that Hall is appealing to the Ministry of Tourism and the ministry with responsibility for entertainment to take a close look at the potential for entertainment and tourism growth throughout the parish. He suggests that gastronomy could be a major feature going forward, with the presence of eateries, including Boston Jerk, Roots 21, The Hip Strip, Cliff Hanger, and restaurants along Winnifred Beach in Fairy Hill.

Hall, who argues that tourism and entertainment could very well become Jamaica’s best foreign exchange income earner, is also toying with the idea of forming a legitimate entertainment committee, to manage and oversee any such development.