By the Caribbean Journal staff

Caribbean Tourism Organization Chief Richard Skerritt has warned the Caribbean against “political stupidity,” what he called the greatest eminent danger to regional tourism.

“Our tourism must be protected from the partisan tribalism that often divides us in these islands,” said Skerritt, who is also the Minister of Tourism in St Kitts and Nevis. “We don’t have to like each other to work together in the national interest.”

The Minister said the common national interest of preserving the crucial tourism sector must trump all other considerations.

“We don’t have to vote for the same party in order to recognise the value of tourism expenditure in our economy,” he said. “We must therefore not allow the vital needs of tourism to be compromised by shortsighted political stupidity. Political stupidity is prevalent across our region.”