MP Wilson says critics of Negril airport plans ‘don’t see the vision’
Published:Tuesday | February 18, 2025 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Morland Wilson, the member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Western, is hitting back at criticisms by People’s National Party’s (PNP) officials of the Government’s proposal to build the Negril International Airport – a project expected to bring much-needed employment.
The airport is being proposed for Little London, a community located some 17 kilometres east of Negril, one of the island’s main tourism hubs.
Following the Government’s announced intention last year, PNP officials, including Odell Marsh, the junior opposition spokesman on transport, argued that road improvements should take priority over building a new airport.
While addressing a JLP political meeting in Westmoreland on Sunday, Wilson said that such a call indicates a lack of vision for development in western Jamaica.
“Some six months ago, our lovely Prime Minister [Dr Andrew Holness] went to an event in Montego Bay and said to the people that we will be building an airport in Negril. You know what the ‘bad-mind’ Opposition said? ‘We don’t want an airport; we want road,’” said Wilson.
“Then somebody touched them on their shoulder and said, ‘You never hear about the SPARK Programme, where some $20 billion will be spent repairing our roads in the entire island?’ It is like they do not see the vision,” Wilson continued. “If we have an airport, we will have development. We will have more water, more electricity, more roads, more security, and everything that comes with an airport, and most importantly, there will be jobs for Jamaicans.”
The planned Negril airport would be Jamaica’s fourth international airport, joining the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston; the Sangster International Airport in St James; and the Ian Fleming International Airport in St Mary.
The Negril Aerodrome would also continue to be operational.
In the meantime, Wilson urged the members of Young Jamaica to bolster support for the JLP from among the youth cohort in Westmoreland, ahead of this year’s anticipated election period.
“For those in Westmoreland Western, we have a lot of young people who come to us for scholarships, for grants, for support, and for advice. We have a wide array of young people across the parish who are not engaged, who do not understand the political process other than what somebody said to them. It is your job to find them and engage them,” said Wilson.
Young Jamaica President Rohan Walsh told Sunday’s meeting that his organisation will do its part to ensure that Wilson, Westmoreland Central MP George Wright and Westmoreland Eastern MP Daniel Lawrence retain power in the constituencies they represent.