St. Ann Municipal Corporation Addresses Horse Issue

The issue of unchecked horseback riding in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, has been addressed.

The St. Ann Municipal Corporation and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) have now taken a proactive approach “in the interest of motorists” and all those who have been affected by “having horses roaming recklessly” on the main road and endangering lives, stakeholders say.

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Sydney Stewart, told JIS News that the St. Ann Municipality was forced to get involved following repeated complaints from residents and motorists about what was happening with the horses on “one of the busiest stretches of road” in the garden parish.

“Following a spate of accidents [over the years] along the busy roadway between the towns of St. Ann’s Bay and Ocho Rios , the St. Ann Municipality has been forced into action,” he said.

Mayor Stewart noted that the Municipality and other government bodies are not against persons trying to earn a living, but it had to “be done in a lawful way and not in a manner that could endanger lives”.

The Mayor told JIS News that the Municipality, as well as TPDCo, has identified a piece of land in Seville, St. Ann, to house the horses, where they no longer have to traverse the main road to go on tours.

The St. Ann police are also involved as it relates to enforcement.

“Thank goodness,” said Mammee Bay resident and owner of the Taj Plaza in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Sanju Chatani.

“Unlicensed tour guides used to take visitors on tours where they had to use the main road from Mammee Bay leading to and from Ocho Rios as a route. As we all know, horses have a mind of their own and yes there have been accidents… some of them fatal… and something had to be done,” he said.

“I know I speak for a lot of people in saying that we are thankful that this situation is now seemingly rectified and motorists can now breathe a sigh of relief when traversing this busy thoroughfare,” Mr. Chatani said.

Maureen Simmonds, President of the newly formed Mammee Bay and Steer Town Citizens Association said she is happy to hear that the problem has been rectified and that the horses have been taken off the road.

Ocho Rios businessman, Simon Anderson, said he avoided an accident when one of the horses got away from its handlers.

“It’s nice to now know that responsible people have stepped in to avert what has always been a dangerous situation,” he said.