For years, succeeding administrations and generations of private sector leaders have talked about revitalising downtown Kingston with development projects.

That inertia has continued.

But there are encouraging signs. Digicel built its world headquarters on the capital’s waterfront, GraceKennedy built a modern corporate home there, and PanJam has opened, on King Street, the ROK Hotel Kingston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the US$50-million ROK Hotel, PanJam Executive Chairman Stephen Facey said: “Kingston is an asset that is impatient for attention. We talk, talk, talk about doing it. We need to do it. At Pan Jam we are doing it, prime minister. Time is our enemy. We need to act. Investors require clarity and proof of concept.

“Today, the trailblazers of investment on the waterfront, Pan Jam, Digicel, GraceKennedy, the Government of Jamaica, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrew Issa and his team with projects, they need facilitation that the Government can bring. We need to find a way to accelerate the development of downtown Kingston.

“What I would recommend to you, Prime Minister, is to create a special committee to focus on downtown and how we can make this a reality. How can we put energy and economic drivers in place? How can we get more people to live downtown? How can we include them? I at Pan Jam, Michael McMorris and others stand ready to work with you, the Minister of Finance and whoever you feel are the appropriate people to drive that process.”

Facey remonstrated that plans have been made for years but they cannot continue to remain in the planning phase. He believes this is an emergency and that the private sector and government must be empowered to take action.

He continued: “The longer we postpone these investments, it prohibits the overall benefits to our country. Pan Jam’s investment here underscores our commitment to a renewed vitality to our capital. We want Kingston to be seen as yet another of Jamaica’s viable, sought after destinations. We want everybody to know the ROK Hotel is open for business and we invite the world to come, stay and explore Kingston. ROK on!”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness agreed that the revitalisation of downtown Kingston should indeed be given attention.

Addressing Facey’s call to establish a committee for the revitalisation of downtown, Holness said: “I have found that committees and commissions are necessary and bring focus to a problem. But I have also found out in Government that the resources to tackle problems aren’t usually there. Therefore, there is no need for new layers of bureaucracy. They are usually there and need to be properly missioned. They need leadership to get them to work but they also need clear government policy to get them functioning effectively.

“Investors want certainty. They like projects that have a demonstration of the vision which would equate to some derisking of problems. They want to know the Government will be standing beside and with them in partnership to get it done.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that governments face challenges, particularly in light of the COVID pandemic. He made it clear that his administration has significant plans for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston and, in particular, the waterfront.

Work has already begun on revetment work, starting from the Caribbean Cement Company and coming into downtown Kingston. This 20-kilometre project is part of infrastructure to support a state-of-the-art boardwalk.

A park and buildings are also being planned with funding coming from a partnership with the World Bank.

“The commitments for the investments in downtown Kingston are there and we will make those investments in the coming years, but beginning right now,” said Holness