Lyttleton ‘Tanny’ Shirley, chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), says the agency has made significant strides in modernising its operations and facilities, with the Garmex Freezone redevelopment standing as a major milestone in its transformation.

Shirley said one of the first directives Prime Minister Andrew Holness gave to the newly appointed FCJ board in 2016 was to resuscitate and restructure the agency, transforming it into a modern institution offering cutting-edge facilities and optimising its assets to achieve financial sustainability.

He noted that it quickly became clear that the Garmex Freezone—the largest industrial complex in Jamaica—was among the FCJ’s most critical assets. “It required our immediate attention to ensure that this campus was developed to optimise our greenfield space and be redeveloped as a modern campus for businesses to grow,” he said.

Shirley recounted the challenges the FCJ faced, particularly as one of the first companies to begin construction during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When we broke ground right here for the construction of these buildings… we faced the high water table in this area and a drainage system which we recognised was built on the existing buildings; we had our work fairly cut out for us. This forced us to re-scope the project to address the drainage system, to relocate it from under the buildings, which allows for better convenience.

In executing the foundation for the various buildings, we had to contend with this high water table that required a constant pumping of water. This required our engineering and construction crew to apply best practices… Coupled with that, we were in a space which was occupied by tenants. We had to ensure that construction activities did not impact,” he continued.

Despite infrastructure delays, Shirley said the FCJ was able to move forward with the redevelopment and expansion of phase one at Garmex. “Challenges aside, here stands phase one of the Garmex Redevelopment and Expansion Project: 126,000 square feet of space comprising 31 units, three warehouses, six mixed-use units, and 22 mini warehouses for micro, small and medium-sized (MSME) businesses. Phase one also saw the development of the main entrance and security posts located on the industrial terrace… Because of the significant demand for space, especially space in the productivity sector, it did not take long for these units to be fully occupied, along with our existing units, which will give major facelifts. In addition to the entire campus, roadworks, a drainage system, and a landscaping upgrade,” Shirley added.

He revealed that the project was self-financed at a cost of $1.3 billion and has already begun to deliver returns, generating nearly $200 million annually from the newly developed spaces. “With the new branding of the campus offering the most convenient container loading and offloading facilities and the most modern security system allowing for facial recognition and license plate detection, Garmex Free Zone has become one of the most in-demand locations for commercial businesses, allowing us to consistently enjoy 100 per cent occupancy.”

Shirley said the agency is not resting on its achievements and is already moving ahead with additional development plans. He disclosed that the FCJ has begun infrastructure work on 5.7 acres of greenfield land located on the west side of the campus to meet the ongoing demand for commercial space, marking the start of phase two.

He added that phase three will focus on the south side of the campus near Marcus Garvey Drive.
“The works will include the construction of a new entrance, similar to what was done at the Industrial Terrace entrance, built out of several warehouses and a commercial building block. Phase four will see us turning our attention to our aged warehouse units to retrofit them into modern buildings, which will allow for vertical expansion. FCJ is big on environmental, social and governance structure, so we are not only talking the talk; we’re walking the walk to ensure that this campus is retrofitted with green technologies,” Shirley continued.

He also announced that the FCJ will implement water harvesting and solar energy systems, particularly to support manufacturers. “FCJ has now completed phase one of ISO 9001:2015 certification. We will complete phase two in August, and by September this year, we are hoping to be fully compliant. That compliance in terms of our customer service, quality and responsibilities,” Shirley said.