How do you feel about the Spanish developers and the Ambassador’s comments? Share your views by writing a comment in the box below.
The cost of lawlessness Observer Editorial | Sunday, June 17, 2007 “And how will the saga of the ‘Spanish invasion’ play out? Will Riu and the Fiesta group just defy the local government authorities to the future detriment of the country’s environmental legacy?”
Stop for Jesús’ sake! - Halting hotel construction costing millions, says envoy
published: Monday | June 18, 2007 “There is no reason to give a stop order to the site because they are dialoguing and the problems are being revised…”
Spain our premier investor? Monday, June 18, 2007 “In nearly every case, the Spanish hotels have utterly disregarded our planning and environmental laws, and apart from threatening letters and short-lived shut-downs, our regulatory agencies have let them get away with it. If these are our “premier investments”, we are in deep trouble.”
LETTER OF THE DAY – Spanish developers must comply published: Wednesday | June 20, 2007
“The Spanish should stop complaining and play by the rules. Otherwise, pack up your “toys” and go home. Jamaica doesn’t want your investment if it comes with carte blanche…for “illegal activities” of any sort. We have enough of that to contend with in our country as it is, and Mr Ambassador, “talking” isn’t enough.”
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4 December, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Philip Newman
I will be visiting Jamaica for a holiday this December, staying at the Riu Ocho Rios, but I am now really concerned about their behaviour. What can I do to influence them ?
I presume they don’t want to lose the tourism revenue so do I simply write/put pressure on the Riu board in Spain ? Have also considered writing to Thomson, who we booked our holiday with, who I think should only be dealing with responsible hotels. After all, they are effectively a stakeholder in Riu.
Any thoughts would be appreciated
4 December, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Wendy Lee
Philip, the RIU chain is actually owned by a German company, TUI. Here’s an article about the hotel you are booked to stay in. According to the residents, who are in touch with NJCA, the pollution continues.
Mammee Bay owners to sue hotel over beach breaches
published: Sunday | September 23, 2007
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070923/lead/lead6.html
I think it’s a good idea to express your concerns in writing to the owners, managers and tour company, and why not post your letter on Tripadvisor or here? Whether the owners care about the environment or not, they do care about bad press. And it’s time our Government realised that tourists are not dummies and they do care about the environment of host countries. In the rush to facilitate ‘development’, our government turns a blind eye to environmental crimes, and it’s just plain wrong.