by Brian Major
Last updated: 2:05 PM ET, Mon February 24, 2014
Jamaica's government issued a "temporary suspension" of all personal water craft rental operations across the island and extended a ban on the importation of PWCs for commercial and private use through Oct. 15, 2014. The ban comes as the government examines "deficiencies" in existing commercial PWC operations and an "insufficient" regulatory framework governing the water craft, said Wykeham McNeill, Jamaica's minister of tourism and entertainment.
The newest ban extends an initial six-month prohibition on the importing of PWCs that began Oct. 15, 2013 following a pair of accidents on August 17 and 21, 2013, in which one child was killed and another person "severely injured."
An initial ban, following the death of an American tourist while swimming at a Negril beach on Jan. 28, 2014, experienced only "limited success," said McNeill.
"The impact of these accidents has been far reaching and has triggered negative public commentary, both locally and internationally, particularly from Jamaica's largest source market in the United States of America," said McNeill.
There are currently eight licensed commercial PWC operators in Jamaica: six in Ocho Rios and two in Negril, although the latter companies are not currently in operation, said McNeill. He acknowledged "a prolific expansion of persons operating illegally, especially in resort areas" following a 2004 island-wide moratorium on the issuing of new PWC operating licenses.
Jamaica's Maritime Authority will ultimately register all PWCs across the island, issuing color-coded certificates and decals. All PWC operators will be required to hold licenses and possess vehicle decals, and commercial operators will also be required to "provide minimum training to persons accessing their services."
Regulations will also be amended to bar children under age 17 from operating commercial PWCs without an accompanying adult, said McNeill, and the government will also be permitted to dispose of seized vehicles.
A task force composed of officials from Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism, Port Authority, Tourism Product Development Co. and other agencies will be formed "to effect the changes implemented," said McNeill.
"Given the urgency of the concerns at hand, and the impact on the tourism industry and livelihoods of many, the ministry and task force will actively proceed with the implementation of critical measures needed to streamline both private and commercial personal water craft operations across the island as quickly as possible," he said.
He added, "It is intended that, guided by the task force, the suspension on the operations will be lifted in each area as the relevant measures identified and regulations put in place are implemented and persons become compliant."
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