KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages Andrea Purkiss has accused Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett of remaining “completely silent” on the state of the cruise shipping sector, which she said, has shrunk over 28 per cent since 2019.

Purkiss, the Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern, said the world is experiencing a boom in cruise shipping while Jamaica is losing business. She addressed the matter on Tuesday during her maiden contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

“He (Bartlett) has made statements claiming that the cruise sector ‘lives up to expectations.’ But the only expectation that has been met is his expectation that nobody would check his math,” said Purkiss.