Violence Blocks Spanish Town Restoration Project in Jamaica

The Ministry of Tourism has more than $100 million to spend on projects in Spanish Town but it is afraid to do so because of the frequent outbreak of gun violence.

With its magnificent Georgian buildings and historical sites, Spanish Town has been selected as one of the perfect destinations for Jamaica’s push towards heritage tourism.

Already, the money has been found by the Tourism Enhancement Fund to restore and preserve the old buildings to create one of the island’s premier heritage-tourism sites.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told The Sunday Gleaner that the restoration project should have already started but the frequent outbreak of gang violence has been a deterrent.

“Spanish Town is still on our radar as a premier destination for heritage tourism. It has a treasure trove of Jamaica’s historical heritage, but we must ensure that it is safe and secure,” said Bartlett.

“The crime will determine how and when this project will proceed. I want the leaders of the community to understand the impact that crime is having on the development of Spanish Town,” Bartlett added.

Spanish Town has been the scene of several major violent incidents resulting from clashes between the Jamaica Labor Party-aligned “One Order” gang and the People’s National Party-linked “Clansman” gang.

In recent months, an unofficial peace treaty and increased police presence have resulted in a reduction in crime in Spanish Town, which was Jamaica’s capital for more than 300 years.

But with several illegal guns still in the hands of criminals, the town is vulnerable to violent outbreaks, which could scuttle the heritage-tourism plans.