Enrique Peñalosa, former Bogota mayor, and urban development expert announced as this year’s speaker 

The Maurice Facey Lecture returns with its 2024 staging under the theme A City for People: Reimagining Jamaica’s Transportation System. 

This year’s lecture will explore the connection between urban mobility, quality of life, equity and leadership in making transformative national change. The lecture, which is free to the public and slated to take place at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, October 8 at the S Hotel Kingston, will feature Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia and urban development expert. 

The Maurice Facey Lecture Series, established in 2019, serves as a platform for global thought leaders to explore the critical role of urban development with a focus on Jamaica. By sharing their expertise, past speakers have offered valuable insights into creating sustainable urban environments that enhance Jamaica’s appeal as a desirable place to live, work and do business. The series honours the legacy of the late Hon Maurice Facey, OJ, JP, the founder of Pan Jamaica Group, who was known for his unwavering passion for Jamaica’s development and the well-being of its people.

This year, guest speaker Enrique Peñalosa, an internationally respected urban thinker, will share his expertise specifically on the topic of urban mobility. His presentation will explore in detail the initiatives he implemented to transform Bogota into a global model for sustainable urban mobility and draw parallels with Jamaica’s transportation system. Peñalosa will also share inspiring examples of the role leadership plays in turning visionary ideas and meticulously crafted plans into reality.

Among his achievements as mayor of Bogotá is the creation of TransMilenio, one of the world’s most efficient Bus Rapid Transit Systems, which today transports 2.4 million passengers daily. Additionally, Peñalosa orchestrated the expansion of Bogota’s infrastructure with extensive bicycle networks, greenways, parks, sports and cultural centres, schools, and high-quality affordable housing. He also successfully redeveloped a 33-hectare crime-ridden area of the city centre, demonstrating his commitment to urban renewal and improved quality of life. Peñalosa has lectured in hundreds of cities and in many of the world’s most prestigious universities and has advised local and national governments in Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America and the United States. 

Peñalosa shared, “While Jamaican cities are relatively small, achieving efficient and high-quality public transportation still requires strong political will and effective public management. A well-functioning public transport system not only improves mobility but also fosters social integration and creates a more humane and efficient city. Unfortunately, many politicians prioritise maintaining power and avoiding conflict over implementing meaningful change, hindering progress towards a more sustainable and equitable urban environment. Ultimately, the challenge of improving mobility lies in addressing equity, democracy, and effective management, rather than solely focusing on engineering or financial aspects.”

Pan Jamaica Group, the title sponsor for the event and one of Jamaica’s leading property development companies, has undertaken numerous successful development projects across the island. The company’s contributions to raising architectural standards serve as compelling evidence of their confidence in the potential for Jamaica’s overall national development.

Jamaica’s Vision 2030 (Land) Transport Sector Plan purports the creation of a ‘safe, efficient and sustainable system of land transport that facilitates economic and social development through the movement of people, goods and services throughout Jamaica.’ Today, Jamaica continues to grapple with challenges related to urban mobility. This timely event offers an opportunity to explore innovative solutions that can improve the lives of its citizens and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. 
Stephen Facey, Chairman of Pan Jamaica Group shared, “Pan Jamaica’s goal, as it has always been, is to take critical action to drive the restoration and regeneration of our capital city while supporting the long-term goals of our country. We believe well-developed cities can be catalysts for broader national development.”