NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Negril hoteliers estimate that they have spent more than $200 million to buy trucked water as a result of the ongoing water crisis brought on by drought conditions. This is 50 per cent more than their usual bill from the National Water Commission and one hotelier has warned that the sector is buckling under the pressure.

“The smaller properties are not going to be able to improve… every year we all improve the quality of our product. We have to paint, refurbish [but] we are not going to be able to do that this year. It is going to affect our product this year. We cannot sustain this for another year,” insisted director of the 59-room Charela Inn Hotel in Negril Sophia Grizzle Roumel.

She was addressing a press conference called jointly by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Negril Chamber of Commerce, held at Couples Swept Away in Negril on Monday. During the media briefing, representatives of both organisations presented two surveys conducted amongst tourism workers and accommodation providers between April 25 and 29. The cost of trucking water was among the findings.

In one of the polls, which targeted accommodation providers, 96 per cent of those surveyed said the water issue affected guests’ experience during their stay while 71 per cent said it has affected future bookings. One hundred per cent of respondents said the crisis has financially impacted their business. Forty per cent of hotels in Negril responded to that poll.

Responding to a question from the Jamaica Observer, JHTA Area Chapter Chair Karen Lanigan said increasing rates to cover the water bill was not feasible and property owners had no choice but to absorb the extra expenses.

“It is not possible at this point in time to add on a surcharge, or whatever, to get more to cover the cost of the water we are buying. It is not going to happen because I don’t think the small hotels can do that,” she explained.

In another poll of 561 tourism workers’ target groups, done by Survey Monkey, it was established that 84 per cent of hotel workers are from the parish of Westmoreland with the remaining 16 from Hanover. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents said they are usually out of water for weeks at a time.

In terms of solutions, 75 per cent of tourism workers suggested that the Great River supply be connected to the Logwood system. Meanwhile, 100 per cent of accommodations within the tourism sector suggested that steps be taken to start the physical work to complete the Great River to Negril water transmission line. More than one answer was accepted from respondents polled.

With 96 per cent of tourism accommodations surveyed indicating that the Government should consider the water crisis in Negril a natural disaster, Lanigan argued that emergency procurement can be used in unforeseen and urgent situations that pose risks to human life.

“Use this process to bring water to Negril before December 2024,” she urged.

She also called for a medium-term project costing US$186 million which was announced by the Government to be fast-tracked.

That project is aimed at upgrading the transmission main from Lucea to Green Island and Negril.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett had indicated in his 2024 sectoral debate that the tourism sector had earned US$4.38 billion for 2023-2024.

“Therefore, Negril earned approximately US$1.3 billion in tourism revenues. Only 18 per cent of this figure is needed to complete this project… we need this spend now to protect the lives and livelihoods of Negril,” said Lanigan.