Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Portland is set for massive development as part of the Government’s plan to sustain long term infrastructure investment without interruption.
The Prime Minister, who was speaking yesterday (August 14, 2024) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the $4.2 billion Boundbrook Urban Center in Port Antonio, outlined several projects for the parish, including a development plan for the Port Antonio Waterfront, and a new bypass road for the town of Port Antonio valued at US$75 million.
“We are giving the town of Port Antonio the opportunity to breathe so you won’t be taking traffic that is passing through, or (doesn’t) have business there. That bypass road will ultimately continue through the hills and connect to the 14 kilometers of road between Yallahs and Harbour View. So, you’re going to have essentially two roads. One, the main road that will carry heavy traffic, heavy volume, (and) get you to where you’re going quickly, and one, the more scenic route that is for the tourism economy that we intend to develop”, he stated.
The Prime Minister added that the long-term strategy for the parish also includes buildings that are suitable for public use including the Boundbrook Urban Centre which is to be constructed on 6.68 acres of land and will contain an amalgamation of the services provided by the Government of Jamaica and the private sector.
“It will have the Municipal building, it will have other Government entities plus private facilities, it will be linked with the Court House, and I believe with the Examination Depot… There is a master plan, so this is not a chaka chaka development”, he stated.
The over 100,000 sq. ft. Boundbrook Urban Centre, is being developed by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), which is an agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, in tandem with equity partners, the National Commercial Bank and Barita Investments Ltd.
Work on the Urban Centre is to be undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
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