WESTERN BUREAU:

Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga has expressed concern about the state of Negril's beach, which he warns could be wiped out if the rate of erosion is not curbed.

"I am distressed to learn what is happening to the (Negril) beach, and that is where I think your focus of attention ought to be," Seaga said during his keynote address at the Negril Chamber of Commerce's annual grand gala at the Grand Lido hotel in Negril on Saturday night.

"If that beach continues to be eroded, someday you will not have a beach on which to attract visitors to hotels in this area.

"I am also distressed at the extent to which the water is being polluted. Water is coming from the morass and elsewhere into the forefront of the beach and polluting the area. These are the two greatest destroyers of any resort area - pollution and erosion - and you are having them," the former prime minister said.

Lobby for concerns

As a result, he said, the Negril Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders should be more vigorous in lobbying the Government to address their concerns.

"What I see from time to time are objections being raised and complaints being made, but I don't see it being done as forcefully as it ought to be.

"I don't see it being done in a manner that will bring it to the attention of Government in such a manner that they can't refuse," he said.