The Board and Management of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) note with great concern the circulation of misinformation and rumours primarily on social media that Dunn’s River Falls and Park has been sold to the Chinese.
Kingston, Jamaica:
The Board and Management of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) note with great concern the circulation of misinformation and rumours primarily on social media that Dunn’s River Falls and Park has been sold to the Chinese.
The UDC wishes to make it clear that this statement is false. It is also potentially damaging to the business aspect of our premier tourism product, from which so many Jamaicans earn a living.
The Urban Development Corporation, as government’s leading urban and regional development planning agency, owns the world famous Dunn’s River Falls on behalf of the people of Jamaica. It is operated through its associate company, the St. Ann Development Company. Dunn’s River Falls will not and cannot be sold as it is Jamaica’s prime tourism destination, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors on an annual basis.
The Corporation remains committed to retaining this invaluable asset and has demonstrated this by spending JMD$114.692 million to construct a Central Gardens area at the attraction. The work is already 50% complete with major elements slated for completion by April 2016.
At completion, the works will include the establishment of a landscaped site with themed gardens, a picnic area with rental kiosks, recreational gazebos, shoe rental, video, photo sales facilities and an interactive water feature for children at play. Other concessionaire opportunities were also recently presented to the public which will result in on-going diversification of the Dunn’s River Falls product.
The UDC’s relationship with Dunn’s River Falls and Park began in 1976, when the Corporation acquired the Belmont Property. Since 1998, the UDC has been engaged in major upgrading of the property, investing in excess of $300M in recent years. This is with a view to ensuring parity with other world class attractions and enriching the Dunn’s River experience.
We wish to reiterate that Dunn’s River Falls and Park has not been sold, that this claim is false and potentially harmful. We trust the foregoing has been helpful.
Senator K D Knight
Chairman
Urban Development Corporation