Gov’t to support investment in St Ann with infrastructure development

Member of Parliament for St Ann North Eastern Matthew Samuda says plans are afoot to support the investment in the growth of the Drax Hall community with road and water infrastructure led by the Government of Jamaica.

He made the announcement last Wednesday (February 12), at the grand opening of the second Mother’s Café in Drax Hall in that constituency.

“Drax Hall is booming, and if you’re not here already, you’re late. And this is a reflection not just of the national business confidence numbers recently announced, or the consumer confidence numbers recently announced. It’s particularly important to note the level of investor confidence that exists in the constituency of [St Ann North Eastern], and particularly led by the Drax Hall area,” he said.

Samuda’s comments reinforced those of the Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis, who spoke at the same event.

In his address, the Ocho Rios councillor noted that the grand opening was for him the third within the space of a few months on that stretch, referring to the recent addition of a Courts Jamaica store and a FosRich outlet on a neighbouring property.

“What we’re seeing here is an explosion in this space,” Belnavis remarked, adding that the location of Drax Hall on the North Coast corridor “bridges”the capital of St Ann’s Bay and the “tourism mecca” of Ocho Rios.

“So we have one contiguous stretch now, and that means that St Ann has really come of age. Those who didn’t invest back then, don’t cry. Everything has doubled and tripled, but it is projected to quadruple in the next few months and years, so you can make your investment right here,” he continued.

On this note, Belnavis commended Mother’s Food Group chairman Michael Ranglin for being “innovative and perceptive” in identifying “a good business opportunity”, and making the investment into the new restaurant.

‘Virgin territory‘

The mayor, referring to Drax Hall as “virgin territory”, further disclosed that he is expecting even more residential and commercial developments in the locale.

“As a matter of fact, we just approved in the [St Ann Municipal Corporation’s] planning department several thousand houses just along this stretch… and there have been several other developers with hundreds of additional plots. And I presume there’s going to be a whole lot more commercial activity in this area. So it’s a great opportunity,” he explained.

With the St Ann Municipal Corporation’s approval, Belnavis said, comes consideration for environmental preservation and sustainability, as well as the consideration of infrastructure to support the development of the town.

While noting that with development must come infrastructural upgrade, he pointed out that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has endorsed road expansion along the thoroughfare passing through Drax Hall and will speak on the issue in the future.

Open to new investment

Following on Belnavis’s remarks, Samuda noted that the surrounding areas of Drax Hall are also slated to welcome new residential developments.

“Several thousand more homes in very close proximity are going through the approval process and the permitting process at NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) as at the municipality. This area is going to expand rapidly. It has already expanded over the past few years, and the economic opportunity here is great,” the Member of Parliament beamed with excited anticipation.

“We can tell you that at the constituency level, we welcome every investor and business person that is coming to contribute positively to St Ann,” he continued, explaining that he is working with the Government to remove obstacles for investors to make meaningful contributions to economic growth and employment.

In addition to the construction of new homes in the area, Samuda is also expecting the addition of 2,000 new hotel rooms. Aside from construction and hospitality, he said the constituency of St Ann North Eastern also has other economic sectors represented including mining, agriculture, business process, outsourcing, and retail, among others.  

“But we are very clear that there is danger in investment that passes infrastructure. It is why the prime minister has been very clear that the road behind you will be developed to become a boulevard as opposed to a highway. The distinction needs to be understood; a highway will not contemplate ingress and egress with the frequency that you have along this corridor,” Samuda clarified.

Notwithstanding, residents of St Ann can expect an extension of the North-South leg of Highway 2000, which will facilitate the increase in carrying capacity of vehicular traffic with dual carriage way.

“So a highway will be built. That highway will extend from the North Coast Highway or the North-South leg from the Golden Grove exit all the way to Trelawny. We’re going through the design process with that and the prime minister will no doubt speak to that in his budget presentation in March,” Samuda revealed.

Not just roads

While noting that the road infrastructure should support and encourage new investment inflows in St Ann, he pointed that the Government’s plans are not limited to the road network. In fact, already underway are efforts to improve water supply.

“For those who would drive along the corridor certainly from the Mammee Bay roundabout all the way beyond the St Ann’s Bay roundabout heading towards Landovery, [you] would notice that there is some pipe work that is taking place. We’re replacing aged piping infrastructure, increasing the carrying capacity. Already we have put J$300 million of new pipes in the ground. We expect that new pipeline to be commissioned sometime in around May,” the MP stated.

The new carrying capacity of water should support new commercial and residential developments once completed. Moreover, to support more businesses along the corridor, there is the installation of fibre optic cables to meet new demands for data.

Samuda also teased that an announcement will be made with regards to the St Ann’s Bay Police Station.