Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart has won the backing of a large number of Jamaica Observer readers who believe his suggestion that Government gets 50 per cent of the funds in the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has merit and shows him to be a patriot. Here are some of the comments on the story published on Sunday under the headline ‘Think again, guys’:

jellybeans:

jellybeans:

Sir B, I lift my hat to you; my deepest, deepest respect. This is love.

zekulest:

zekulest:

Time to put Jamaica first. Thanks Butch. You are a true patriot.

whitemarion:

whitemarion:

Why hasn’t he done this before?

Zekulest:

Zekulest:

Where have you been? Butch saved the hotel industry back in the 80s when everyone left. he started the save the dollar initiative, he rescued Air Jamaica when it was floundering, making it into a first class airline, he’s donated to countless charities, employed thousands in the hotel industry, and continues to invest in Jamaica. His new hotels in Dragon Bay and Kingston are out to be developed. I could go on but no need to. You get the point.

yelduanealcm@gmail.com:

yelduanealcm@gmail.com:

Butch is a real Jamaican patriot. he may be white, but his love for his country is second to none…I salute Mr Stewart for his common sense approach, sighting the interest of the country comes first; he has always been a positive Jamaican. maybe some of us blacks, who claim to be the true son of the soil, can learn a thing or two from him. my only suggestion is that an MOU should be signed in order to return these funds to its rightful place at an appropriate time.

pinnacle:

pinnacle:

Black Jamaicans vs White Jamaicans! We are one Jamaica, out of many One.

CHUCK EMMANUEL the FIRST:

CHUCK EMMANUEL the FIRST:

Why mention race?

Peterlane:

Peterlane:

What does colour has to do with it? Butch more Jamaican than most of us commenters.

Michael G Mack:

Michael G Mack:

Big up to Mr Stewart!! True PATRIOT

Ise:

Ise:

Sensible man, I am halfway to forgiving him for that Trump mis-step.

Robert C Gray:

Robert C Gray:

With Mr Stewart being the guru of the all-inclusive sector, if he says it is okay, I have no problem with government taking money from the TEF. But it is not his money. The money has been collected from tourists so as to improve tourist resorts, security and tourist products. Of course there is nothing wrong with funds from the TEF supporting the wider Jamaica infrastructure but I agree, keep the government grubby hands off and let those the legislation assigned to manage the funds get on with doing their job.

CMThompson:

CMThompson:

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” Now we understand why this patrician was able to achieve so much. The way he thinks is beyond genius. Is there genius+? This will create more growth; the country will be much better off. As people prosper in general, so will the individuals. Less suffering for the people.

John Brown:

John Brown:

This is the difference between a real businessman and a mouthpiece.

MC & Arsenal:

MC & Arsenal:

“Time to put Jamaica first.” Butch is a sensible businessman and naturally puts his business first, BUT the good thing it is a win-win situation..Is like when the “Queen” is coming we fix roads, and as a boy I thought it was a waste of money BUT guess what, when Queen gone the “infrastructure” is left for the people.

Dougy:

Dougy:

Thank you, Mr Stewart. It was taxpayers money that started all the programmes that have now developed to become independent. Sometimes these funds can be used to fund infrastructure that will also benefit the users of these programmes and all taxpayers.

mick:

Butch the patriot. JHTA the selfish.

BigCarliss:

BigCarliss:

Please Mr Stewart…NO bailing out or CHARITY for the arrogant government!..Give directly back to the ordinary Jamaicans with ideas and ambitions. Stimulate and grow the economy by creating more business opportunities for the less fortunate. HOW? – in the form of $1-million grants for each entrepreneur with great business plans. This will equate to creating THOUSANDS of small business start-ups across Jamaica, because giving to the Jamaican government is just the same as burning the money. Yes, the needs of the Jamaican government are rarely aligned with ‘meeting the needs of the Jamaican people’. 😉

CMThompson:

CMThompson:

I understand your concept and I agree, but there has to be funding all around.

The Government needs money to run the country. Remember when they claimed Jamaica had no money, yet these agencies had more money than they were borrowing from the IMF. Had the Government accessed that money the country would be in less debt. Now they will be able to pay down the debt and run the country at the same time. Over time they will pay off the debt because the taxes will continue to flow from those sources – airline ticket sales, head taxes, and so on.

peejay the original:

peejay the original:

Most tourists come ashore for a few hours, then go back on the ship. Some do fly in . Thank you, Butch, a man that uses his mind for the country is irreplaceable and others should agree and follow. The citizens should not carry this burden on their backs each and every time a budget comes in. I do not agree with this budget but if carried out we should end up in good standing right, IDK?

Commenter impartialis:

Commenter impartialis:

Ok my respect for this man just shot way, way, way up.

John H Christian:

John H Christian:

Butch and I agree…when the announcement was made, I posted on

FB that the country should benefit from this pool of funds, too much of it has been wasted on pet projects that had NOTHING to do with tourism.

XAMYCA:

XAMYCA:

I hear you Butch, and I admire your ‘patriotism’ because it does not indeed make sense to the tourism industry to pretend it can flourish while the country is in financial mayhem and unable to adequately provide for some of the essential services including reducing social unrest and fighting crime. Where I do have a problem, however, is the tendency of our govts to autonomously change the rules in the middle of the game. While I understand our new found commitment to reduce debt/borrowing and the “One Jamaica” mantra, these changes should be discussed, legislation passed and a time limit agreed. Otherwise, nothing will be safe from the reaches of govt, with the risk of frustrating the original purpose of these funds.

Ann Hudson:Wow, someone who thinks not only of himself..I commend him.Hugh Oliver:

Ann Hudson:

Wow, someone who thinks not only of himself..I commend him.

Hugh Oliver:

There are many projects that can be identified that could benefit the industry and help relieve the budget. For example, we desperately need proper, wider and more walker-friendly sidewalks in all the towns in Jamaica. We have put all the emphasis on auto traffic and the only case I have seen pedestrians given some consideration is on the Ocho Rios to Port Antonio roadway built by the EU.

The minister of tourism should get out of his car and try to walk from one end of Main Street in Ocho Rios to the other. It is a walk from hell with broken, non-existent and lamp post-blocked obstacle course. Our tourists and residents require better. Montego Bay, Kingston and most Jamaican towns have the same issue. How about some large and user-friendly markets and transportation centre Mr Bartlett, use the funds quickly before it gets diverted to some pie in the sky projects or new cars for MPs.

Jaded876:

Jaded876:

Sandals Resorts International operates more hotels here than any other organisation and is responsible for a significant chunk of the monies allocated to the TEF… hmm, in the end, Mr Stewart not everyone is as giving as you. I would be upset also if the decision was made without consulting me, who is directly involved.

Juju Brown:

Juju Brown:

Totally agree.

Jas:

Jas:

Is Butch Stewart’s TEF proposition an admission that the Government Growth Strategy cannot be relied on to generate the increase revenue necessary to fund its budget!

Noshel:

Noshel:

I agree with Mr Stewart, that money from the TEF should go to the Government, but not the NhT money!

NejeeperKNG:

NejeeperKNG:

Patriotism is alive…I am overwhelmed with hope. Time to put Jamaica first. there will always be pessimism, however, I am with this optimistic man. May the Most High continue to bless Mr Stewart.