Prime Minister Holness shares plans to develop Jamaica’s next city in St Elizabeth
Josimar Scott / Our Today
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Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness outlined plans to create a new city in the parish of St Elizabeth during the grand opening of KFC Black River on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
He shared during the event a transformative development that involves establishing a purpose-built urban space, which will spur greater development in the island’s south coast.
Holness reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to equitable national development and transformation. In this regard, he revealed a major initiative to shift the country’s urban growth model through a strategically planned city unlike any before in modern Jamaica.
The prime minister disclosed that based on detailed assessments, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has identified the parish of St Elizabeth as the most viable location to host this new urban centre. The study highlights the parish’s combination of geographic advantages, economic potential, and cultural heritage.
“The area that we have been advised is the best area to do an entirely new city, and it is because all the requisite elements to create a new city exist here. And you don’t want to create a city that replicates Montego Bay and replicates Kingston. You want to create something unique. And therefore, this parish, St Elizabeth, would be where we would be looking to develop our new city,” Holness said.
His announcement follows years of infrastructural groundwork and major investments to come in the parish. These include the Spur Tree bypass and the South Coast Highway Improvement Project. Both should improve connectivity and unlock economic growth along Jamaica’s southern belt.
Moreover, the prime minister underscored the importance of these upgrades to the long-term city development strategy.
Holness also highlighted several ongoing and future initiatives aimed at maximising the agricultural, tourism and educational potential of the parish – from the Pedro Plains Irrigation Project to the development of education tourism and heritage restoration in Black River.
“We have a massive plan for the development of every parish in Jamaica. In the next chapter of our development in our new term that is fast approaching, you can look out for individual parish development plans to improve the quality of life of the people, to provide the infrastructure that they need, to create the business environment and, ultimately, to give the people the ability to live and work and earn where they live,” he detailed.
In the meantime, the prime minister urged residents, business leaders and local government to actively participate in the vision for a modern, connected and inclusive Jamaica where every parish, especially St Elizabeth, plays a central role in national growth.
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