The casino world has discovered Jamaica. It's about time!
I have no idea if Bob Marley or Israel Vibrations, a reggae group I met at Bamboo Bernie's in St. Maarten, gambled. But somehow...
...I suspect they DID.
Gamblers come from all parts of life and flourish in places like Third World Countries, where the odds are against you. During the five years I spent working as a journalist in the Eastern Caribbean...
...I played poker and shot dice against a lot of islanders who worked on the sugar cane fields or for the tourist industry.
Jamaica recently changed its laws regulating marijuana. That, plus this new move to have its first operational casino running by 2020, are two important steps toward making the island even more tourism friendly.
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett let the information slip out of the bag while speaking at a business conference at the Sandals Montego Bay Resort recently. He confirmed to reporters that a casino is scheduled to open by 2020, and pointed out that the island had passed legislation permitting casinos to operate in 2010.
Jamaica had 4.3 million visitors in 2017. They came by commercial jet, yacht and on cruise lines and spent more than $3 bullion to shore up the island's economy.
Like the other islands of the Caribbean...
...Jamaica suffers from a high unemployment rate. It is taking steps to improve the jobless picture, unlike St. Kitts and Nevis where I formerly worked.
The government of St. Kitts has a limited number of casinos on the island, while its sister island of Nevis has no casinos. St. Kitts is also struggling with the idea of legalizing marijuana which the Rastafarian Church has promoted and supported for many years.
Bob Marley was a popular reggae musician who accepted the marijuana culture when he recorded his music and performed in live concerts three decades ago. His son, Ziggy Marley, followed in his father's footsteps and is a popular reggae musician operating out of Jamaica.
I watched him perform at Bamboo Bernie's, a popular gathering place on St. Maarten, several years ago. The place was jam packed with more than 6,000 people and it was a delightful evening!
Israel Vibrations is another popular reggae group from Jamaica. Two friends who operate on crutches because of childhood bouts with polio head the musicians. By dancing to the reggae beat on their crutches, they electrify the audience.
One island concert goer told me, laughing:
"They are wonderful. They look like mechanical monsters from 'Star Wars.''
Bartlett downplayed the impact future casinos might have on the Jamaican tourist industry, saying he doubted if it would affect more than a 2 percent increase. However...
...he said he would let the future be the determining factor and is willing to stand aside and watch the industry grow.
The half dozen casinos operating on the 'friendly' island of St. Maarten have brought a lot of tourist dollars to that island which is half Dutch and half French. I have many fond memories of my experiences at the Atlantis, Hollywood and Rouge et Noir casinos.
All I can add is that the cruise lines industry is certain to pick up a lot of future customers when the Jamaican casinos open.
Cuba and other Caribbean islands, are you listening?