Chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group, Stephen Facey, has called for bold investment and renewed pride in downtown Kingston, declaring that the city’s waterfront must reclaim its role as Jamaica’s “front veranda” and global face.

Facey described Kingston’s waterfront as the gateway where “Jamaica meets the world”, welcoming visitors arriving by air, sea, and harbour. He stressed that this symbolic space carries a unique responsibility. “By its very nature, it must be open, inviting, and hospitable, setting the tone for all that lies within,” he said, adding that downtown Kingston must rise to this role as the city’s face and meeting ground.

Speaking at the Maurice Facey Lecture Series on Thursday, October 9, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, he acknowledged the challenges of the waterfront. “At present, however, the state of our front bunker is in disrepair. The downtown waterfront is underutilised, and its immense potential has been left unrealised for far too long.” He recalled the thriving port economy of the past and pointed to setbacks caused by the relocation of shipping operations and civil unrest of the 1970s, which “gave rise to deep divisions within the city’s social landscape.”

Facey tied this history to his own family’s legacy, noting the contributions of his late father, Maurice Facey. “Through the Pan Jamaica Group, he made significant real estate contributions to downtown Kingston’s skyline and pioneered many other commercial and residential developments throughout the city,” he said, highlighting the establishment of the CB Facey Foundation to advance education, the environment, and the arts.

Turning to the present, the Pan Jamaica chairman outlined the company’s role in regeneration. “We have invested boldly in urban regeneration projects, such as the Air Jamaica building, the Scotia Centre, and our newest development, the Rock Hotel and Residences.” He also hailed partnerships with the Kingston Restoration Company and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which he described as essential to the transformation of the capital.

He singled out the UDC’s flagship Kingston Waterfront Infrastructure Project (KIWI), funded by the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica. The project, Facey said, envisions “a waterfront of open access, resilient infrastructure, green public spaces, and thoughtful design.”

Yet, he warned that international travel advisories continue to cast a shadow over Jamaica’s progress. “These are not harmless notices. They are reputational barriers that deter visitors, investors, and talent.” He urged that such reports be contextualised, stressing that “downtown Kingston is not defined by danger,” but by resilience and growth.

The chairman pointed to the presence of major institutions such as the Bank of Jamaica, the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the National Gallery, GraceKennedy, and Digicel, alongside the island’s Parliament and courts, as evidence that “thousands of Jamaicans work, trade, and visit here daily, proof that the heartbeat of our city remains strong.”

Facey issued a call to action, stating that downtown Kingston cannot attract the investment and partnerships necessary for growth if the global narrative about Jamaica remains one of fear.

He urged not only government and business, but also citizens, to embrace pride and responsibility. “As the business community and government continue to invest in the development of this waterfront, citizens too must play their part by taking pride in our environment, rejecting wrongdoing, and standing up for the Jamaica we know.”