SPEAKING NOTES
DR DAMIAN GRAHAM
KIWANIS LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AND TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMME
NOVEMBER 27, 2017
GOOD AFTERNOON FELLOW KIWANIANS
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO SPEAK ABOUT THE UDC IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AND ALSO THE TAX INENTIVE PROGRAMME. I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE PEOPLE POWER EFFECT OF THE KIWANIS AND OTHER SERVICE CLUBS AND THE VALUE OF THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM THAT YOU REPRESENT AND INDEED I DEEM IT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ASKED TO ADDRESS YOU. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION, VOLUNTEER WORK REFERS TO ACTIVITIES PERFORMED WILLINGLY AND WITHOUT PAY TO PRODUCE GOODS OR PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OTHERS OUTSIDE THE VOLUNTEER’S HOUSEHOLD OR FAMILY. VOLUNTEER WORK PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN COUNTRIES, CONTRIBUTING TO PRODUCTION AND TO ECONOMIC OUTPUT, PARTICULARLY IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, AND ALSO TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL COHESION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
YOUR ROLE THEN IS CRUCIAL AS A SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE FORCE IN MOVING THINGS AHEAD AND WE ASK THAT YOU SHARE THE POSITIVE MESSAGES I WILL BE GIVING TODAY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR VARIOUS CLUBS THAT THERE IS A TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY THAT AUGURS WELL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT AND PRIDE AS A DEVELOPING FIRST WORLD COUNTRY. IT ALSO SPEAKS WELL OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING BUSINESS CLIMATE WITHIN DOWNTOWN THAT THE ENTERPRISING BUSINESS PERSON CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NOW BEFORE PROPERTY VALUES SOAR BEYOND REACH.
WHAT IS THE POSITIVE STORY THAT I HAVE TO SPEAK OF TODAY…IT’S A STORY OF CHANGE SET AMIDST A MULTI-TEXTURED HISTORICAL CANVAS OF GLORY THEN PARADISE LOST THEN GLORY REGAINED.
SOME WOULD DARE SAY IT’S AN UGLY GUTSY STORY WITH A BEAUTIFUL ENDING.
IT’S THE STORY OF THE UDC-LED DOWNTOWN KINGSTON RENNAISSANCE.
ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF JAMAICA AND I QUOTE UNTIL 1692, THERE WAS NO SUCH PLACE AS KINGSTON. KINGSTON CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN 1692 AFTER A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVES DESTROYED UP TO TWO THIRDS OF PORT ROYAL AND CAUSED THE DEATHS OF ABOUT THREE THOUSAND INHABITANTS. EARLY MAPS LISTED KINGSTON’S NAME AS “BEESTON”. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN SAID AS THE LAND WAS PURCHASED FROM SIR WILLIAM BEESTON. IN JULY 1692, PLANS FOR BUILDING “THE NEW TOWN OF KINGSTON” BY JOHN GOFFE, A SURVEYOR, WERE DRAWN UP AND TERMS BY WHICH SETTLERS COULD ACQUIRE LAND WERE ISSUED. PORT ROYAL WAS STILL THE CHOICE OF RESIDENCE BY MANY PERSONS BECAUSE OF THE FORMER GRANDEUR: CONSEQUENTLY, THIS STALLED THE DEVELOPMENT OF KINGSTON. AS SOON AS THE HORRORS OF THE EARTHQUAKE WERE FORGOTTEN AND A SENSE OF NORMALCY WAS RESTORED, MIGRANTS SAILED BACK TO PORT ROYAL. THIS ALL CAME TO A HALT A FEW YEARS LATER HOWEVER, WHEN A CATASTROPHIC FIRE IN 1703, COMPLETELY DESTROYED MOST OF WHAT THE EARTHQUAKE HAD SPARED, AS WELL AS THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE RESTORED. ONCE AGAIN PORT ROYAL RESIDENTS MIGRATED TO KINGSTON, MOST NEVER TO RETURN. SOON AFTER IN 1703, A LAW WAS PASSED DECLARING KINGSTON TO BE THE CHIEF SEAT OF TRADE AND HEAD PORT OF ENTRY INTO THE ISLAND. FROM THIS MOMENT ON, THE PROSPERITY OF KINGSTON WAS ASSURED, AND IN 1713 IT WAS DECLARED BY LAW THAT THE PLACE SHOULD “FOREVER BE TAKEN AND ESTEEMED AS AN ENTIRE AND DISTINCT PARISH WITH ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER PARISH” AND THAT, FURTHER IT SHOULD “HAVE THE RIGHT OF SENDING THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ASSEMBLY.
DURING THE POST – EMANCIPATION PERIOD, PRIVATE AND SPECULATIVE BUILDERS ADDED TWO SUBURBAN ZONES TO THE SETTLEMENT WHICH HAD BEEN DEVELOPED DURING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. AREAS THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE 1890 WERE LAID OUT IN GEOMETRICAL DESIGNS REMINISCENT OF GOFFE’S ORIGINAL TOWN PLAN. BY 1848, NEW HOUSES HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN THE WEST, NORTH AND EAST, AND MAJOR SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPED AT RAE TOWN, BROWN’S TOWN, LINDO’S TOWN, HANNAH TOWN, AND SMITH VILLAGE (WEST KINGSTON). TO THESE WERE ADDED, BETWEEN 1848 AND 1889, THE SUBURBS OF FLETCHER’S TOWN, KINGSTON GARDENS, ALLMAN TOWN, FRANKLIN TOWN, AND PASSMORE TOWN. BY 1920 SEVERAL OF THESE DISTRICTS WERE COMPOSED OF DENSELY POPULATED TENEMENTS, AND THE CONTINUOUSLY BUILT UP AREA HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE PARISH BOUNDARY INTO ST. ANDREW, REACHING UP PARK CAMP, JONES TOWN, AND THE MENTAL HOSPITAL IN THE NORTH, WEST, AND EAST RESPECTIVELY.
NOT LONG AFTER THE TWENTIETH CENTURY THE CITY OF KINGSTON WAS TO UNDERGO ANOTHER MAJOR TRAGEDY. A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK THE CITY ON JANUARY 14, 1907. A LARGE PART OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA WAS DESTROYED AND VIRTUALLY ALL THE BUILDINGS SOUTH OF PARADE.
THE NATURAL DISASTERS WERE NOT OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT SIXTY ONE YEARS LATER ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS FACING NEWLY INDEPENDENT JAMAICA IN THE 1960’S WAS THE INCREASING TREND TOWARDS OVERPOPULATION IN THE URBAN CENTRES. BECAUSE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN MINING, MANUFACTURING AND TOURISM WAS CONCENTRATED IN THESE AREAS, THERE WAS A DRIFT OF THE RURAL POPULATION TO THE CITIES AND TOWNS IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT AND AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT THE UDC WAS CREATED AND MANDATED TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN WHEN AND WHERE IT IS NEEDED IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL PRIORITIES ON MARCH 21, 1968 THROUGH A SPECIAL ACT OF PARLIAMENT. AS SUCH WE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS OF KINGSTON WATERFRONT AND MARKET DISTRICT WITH THE ADJOINING PORT ROYAL, CAYMANAS, HELLSHIRE, OCHO RIOS, FALMOUTH AND MONTEGO BAY.
WITH PARTICULAR RESPECT TO DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AND PORT ROYAL, ACCORDING TO HISTORICAL SOURCES INCLUDING THE GLEANER’S PIECES OF THE PAST, CAPITAL CITY, A HISTORIC LOOK AT KINGSTON, DESPITE THE MANY SETBACKS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, MUCH OF THE RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE FOR WHICH JAMAICA IS RENOWN WAS BORN HERE. OUT OF THIS AREA CAME KEN BOOTHE, HIGGS AND WILSON, THE BLUES BUSTERS, PRINCE BUSTER, MARCIA GRIFFITHS AND JUDY MOWATT. CLOSE BY IN TRENCH TOWN, ST. ANDREW, EMERGED THE VOICES OF ROBERT NESTA MARLEY, PETER TOSH AND BUNNY WAILER WHO BUILT ON THE JAMAICAN MUSICAL FORMS OF SKA AND ROCKSTEADY TO CREATE REGGAE, A MUSICAL STYLE THAT WOULD FOREVER CHANGE THE FACE OF JAMAICAN AND WORLD MUSIC.
THE MORAL OF THAT STORY IS THAT GOOD THINGS CAN COME OUT OF SETBACKS
WE ARE BY NO MEANS FINISHED WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN KINGSTON HAVING RENEWED OUR EFFORTS UNDER THE PRIME MINISTER ANDREW HOLNESS LED ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE THE RENAISSANCE.
THE MAJOR FOCUS POINTS OF OUR CURRENT MASTER PLAN INCLUDE A MULTI MODAL TRANSPORT HUB, ICT/BPO CENTRE, WATERFRONT ENTERTAINMENT AND HOTELS, MARINA AND CRUISE SHIP PIER, MULTI-STOREY PARKING GARAGE,OFFICE COMPLEX, APARTMENT COMPLEX. THESE ALL FALL WITHIN A 17 ZONE DEVELOPMENT AREA CURRENTLY WE ARE LOOKING AT TRANSFORMING THE KINGSTON WATERFRONT, MARKET DISTRICT AREA AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONS WITH OUR VALUED STAKEHOLDERS. COLLABORATING WORK IS ONGOING WITH PRIVATE SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIFESTYLE CENTRE DOWNTOWN BRINGING A HIGHER LEVEL OF RETAIL/COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE TO PATRONS. WE ARE ALSO FACILITATING THE RETURN OF CRUISE SHIPS TO THE AREA CLOSE TO THE CRAFT MARKET AND A VIABLE LINKAGE TO PORT ROYAL WHILE PROMOTING THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMME WHICH HAS BEEN RENEWED AND EXTENDED IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS YOU MAY KNOW, URBAN RENEWAL AND EXPANSION ARE AMONG THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE UDC’S WORK. AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY IS THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMME FOR URBAN RENEWAL. THIS IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS TO FACILITE THE PROCESS OF URBAN REVITALISATION.
THIS PROGRAMME PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR GRANTING INCENTIVES TO THOSE WHO INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT, REHABILITATION OR REFURBISHING OF LANDS OR BUILDINGS IN AREAS DECLARED AS SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
THE PROGRAMME WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN KINGSTON IN AUGUST 1995 AND AMONG THE COMPANIES TO HAVE MADE USE OF THE TIP ARE JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF GRACE, KENNEDY BUILDING ON HARBOUR STREET AND COURTS JAMAICA LTD ON KING STREET IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON.
AS INDICATED, THE AIM OF THIS PROGRAMME IS TO REDRESS URBAN DECAY AND ENCOURAGE AND STIMULATE REVITALIZATION OF THE CITY CENTRE.
THROUGH THE TIP THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO GARNER SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT PARTICULARLY FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF BLIGHTED AND OTHER AREAS.
BUT HOW DOES IT WORK? I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO OUTLINE THE FEATURES OF THE TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMME AND I ASK THAT YOU ALLOW ME A FEW MINUTES TO GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH IS MANAGED BY THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THROUGH ITS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE, PROVIDES TAX RELIEF TO COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS UNDERTAKING IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON EITHER LAND OR BUILDINGS. THE INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED TO BOTH OWNERS AND LESSEES OF PROPERTY IN SELECT SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS (SDAS) IDENTIFIED AS SUFFERING BLIGHT OR DECAY. A SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA IS ONE WHICH IS DECLARED BY THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF URBAN RENEWAL.
THE BOUNDARY STARTS AT THE KINGSTON WATERFRONT FROM PECHON STREET THEN WESTERLY ALONG THE COASTLINE THEN UP GREENWICH STREET OFF SPANISH TOWN ROAD, NORTHERLY ALONG THE PARISH BOUNDARY UNTIL IT CONNECTS WITH MARESCAUX ROAD UP TO ARNOLD ROAD. THE BOUNDARY CONTINUES DOWN CAMP ROAD UNTO DEANERY ROAD CONTINUING THROUGH EAST KINGSTON ALONG WARIEKA ROAD AND HARBOUR ROAD TO THE SHELL REFINERY IN ROCKFORT AND BACK ALONG THE COASTLINE TO PECHON STREET.
THERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES OF INCENTIVES:
- URBAN RENEWAL BONDS – THIS IS THE USE OF BONDS WHICH ALLOW FOR LOWER FINANCING COSTS FOR INVESTMENT CAPITAL AND WHICH ACT AS LOAN INSTRUMENTS TO MOBILIZE FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA
- INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT – A 33% TAX CREDIT ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT WHICH IS OFFSET AGAINST THE INVESTOR’S INCOME TAX LIABILITY
- TAX FREE RENTAL INCOME-
RELIEF FROM INCOME TAX ON RENTAL INCOME FROM THE NEW OR REFURBISHED
- EXEMPTION FROM TRANSFER TAX AND STAMP DUTY
WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE PERSONS AND COMPANIES TO MAKE USE OF THE INCENTIVES
WE ARE PREPARING TO GO TO THE MARKET IN LATE 2017 TO EARLY 2017 TO SECURE OPERATORS FOR THE ALREADY COMPLETED PHASE 1 OF THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE AND FOOD BAZAAR. A LANDSCAPED AREA ADJACENT TO THE KINGSTON CRAFT MARKET COMPLETE WITH KIOSKS HAS BEEN BUILT AND WILL SOON BE OCCUPIED BY ENTREPRENUERS AS WE FACILITATE THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, THE UDC ACTING AS PROJECT MANAGERS ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION IS EXECUTING THE 11 STOREY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & FOREIGN TRADE BUILDING. WORK IS NINETY PERCENT (90%) COMPLETE ON THE MAIN BUILDING WITH THE ROOFING EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY DECEMBER 2017.THE PROJECT IS VALUED AT J$3.968 BILLION OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY J$3.267 BILLION IS BEING FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WITH WORKS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 2018. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA IS PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THE COASTAL PROTECTION, DRAINAGE AND EXTERNAL WORKS; THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION IS GIVING OVERSIGHT TO THE PROJECT WHILE THE UDC IS CARRYING OUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT DUTIES. FUNDING/OVERSIGHT IS BEING COORDINATED THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES ALSO BEING DRAWN FROM THE NATIONAL WORKS AGENCY. JIANGSU JIANGDU CONSTRUCTION GROUP LTD IS THE MAIN CONTRACTOR.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES ALSO ABOUT IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AS WE PREPARE MARKET SURVEY INSTRUMENTS FOR THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING ANOTHER MULTISTORY PARKING GARAGE ON ORANGE STREET, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON WEST STREET AND AN OFFICE COMPLEX ON PORT ROYAL STREET.
THE UDC IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT OVAL AND DOWNTOWN KINGSTON PROJECT WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A PARLIAMENTARY SQUARE , UPGRADING THE NATIONAL HEROES PARK AND DEVELOPMENT WORK IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON. WE ARE WORKING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A NON-BINDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA AND THE CHINA CONSTRUCTION AMERICA-SOUTH AMERICA DIVISION (CCASA) SIGNED IN MARCH 2017. THE MOU PROVIDES FOR THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (UDC) AND CCASA TO COLLABORATE IN RELATION TO THE PRELIMINARY PHASE OF THE GOVERNMENT OVAL PROJECT. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE, TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION WITH A VIEW TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT. ALREADY A TEASER PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR THE HEROES PARK HAS BEEN DESIGNED. LATER PHASES WILL SEE THE FULL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA PROCUREMENT SYSTEM OF LOCAL EXPERTS WHO WILL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRACTING ON THIS PROJECT.
THE UDC IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKET DISTRICT THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RED ROSE MARKET AND THE JUBILEE MARKET BOTH OF WHICH FALL UNDER THE PETROCARIBE FUND.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON INDIRECTLY FACILITATED BY THE UDC THROUGH SALE OF PROPERTY INCLUDE THE GRACEKENNEDY HEADQUARTERS BEING DEVELOPED ON A LOT SOLD BY THE CORPORATION SIMILARLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIXED USE CARIBBEAN MARKETPLACE BEING BUILT AT THE FORMER OCEAN HOTEL SOLD BY THE UDC. MENTION MUST BE MADE OF THE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SOCIO-CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE CITY THROUGH THE UPGRADING OF VARIOUS EATERIES LOCATED AT GROWING SPOTS SUCH AS SWISS STORES, ISLAND SQUEEZE AND VICTORIA PIER.
WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE PLAYED A PART IN HELPING THE UNITED NATIONS TO FINALISE THEIR PLANS FOR THE ESTABLISMENT OF THE UN HOUSE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES AT THE JAMAICA CONFERENCE CENTRE. THIS WILL SEE MAJOR BRANCHES OF THE UN COALESCING THEIR OPERATIONS FROM ONE LOCATION ADDING TO THE PRESTIGE AND ALLURE OF DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AS A SAFE, PROGRESSIVE AND TRULY INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE GLOBAL POWERHOUSE.
WHILE WE ARE MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH DOWNTOWN KINGSTON AND RESTORING AND IMPROVING ITS ICONIC STATUS, WE CONTINUE TO INVITE YOU TO DREAM WITH US OF THE FUTURE. THIS IS A RECURRING VISION THAT WE HAVE THAT WILL LIVE WELL BEYOND OUR YEARS, A STORY THAT OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN WILL STUDY IN SCHOOLS AS A HISTORY LESSON.
ENVISION WITH ME THAT IT IS 2031 AND THE UDC CELEBRATES 62 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN JAMAICA BY HAVING A GRAND GALA CELEBRATION AT THE KINGSTON WATERFRONT THAT HOSTS 500,000 PATRONS FROM FESTIVAL MARKET PLACE ALL THE WAY TO THE ICONIC MUSIC MUSEUM AND ALONG THE PALISADOES PROMENADE AND THE NEWLY BUILD HENRY MORGAN PARK IN PORT ROYAL.
THIS CELEBRATION IS BEING TELEVISED PAY-PER-VIEW TO THE JAMAICAN DIASPORA AND IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE CELEBRATION IN THE OTHER TWO CITIES. FREEDOM PARK IN MONTEGO BAY IS HOSTING 300,000 PATRONS CONSISTING OF LOCALS AND TOURISTS WHO STRETCH FROM THE MONTEGO PIER ALONG THE NEW PROMENADE PAST THE ICONIC MONUMENT TRAIL AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO DEAD END PARK. IN THE NEWLY BUILT THIRD CITY, THE MAYOR, GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER ARE CUTTING THE RIBBON IN THE BRAND NEW CIVIC CENTER CALLED TECHNOLOGY PARK. THE THIRD CITY CELEBRATIONS ARE HOSTING 200,000 PATRONS OF LOCALS AND VISITORS WHO ARRIVE INTO THE CITY VIA MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT TO EXPERIENCE THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SPACES BUILD USING LEED PRINCIPLES IN A CITY WHICH IS THE LEADING CENTER FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN THE HEMISPHERE.
JAMAICA HAS BECOME THE 4TH LOGISTIC HUB WITH NUMEROUS URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS LEAD BY THE UDC WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED THE ECONOMY TO ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE REGION TOWARDS DEVELOPED NATION STATUS. THE UDC HAS CREATED 12 NEW GREEN SPACES IN ADDITION TO EMANCIPATION PARK, FREEDOM PARK, TECHNOLOGY PARK IN EACH TOWN THAT PROVIDES SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INTERACTION FOR IN THE RATIO OF 1 PARK PER CAPITA. THERE ARE ALSO 33 MORE PUBLIC BEACHES AND 6 ECO-LODGES WITH SURROUNDING ECOLOGY HABITAT ATTRACTIONS. OUR ATTRACTIONS ARE WELL SORT AFTER BY DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS PROVIDING RICH JAMAICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ECOLOGY, PROVIDING BEST IN CLASS DESTINATION EXPERIENCE IN LEISURE, ENTERTAINMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GASTRONOMY.
OVER THE 12 YEARS OF THE UDC’S TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM DELIVERY, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED RECORD PROFITS YEAR ON YEAR, PROVIDING ABOVE MARKET RATE RETURN FOR PPP’S AND REIT TYPE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE HAVE DONE ACROSS THE TOWN CENTERS. OUR TEAM OF HIGHLY COMPETENT TECHNICIANS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ARE WELL SOUGHT AFTER AND UDC IS ASKED TO PROVIDE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN LATAM TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR CITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVE TRULY DELIVERED ON OUR MANDATE TO LEAD ECONOMICAL, ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION.
THANK YOU FELLOW KIWANIANS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE YOU TODAY AND I IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AS VOLUNTEERISM TRANSLATES INTO SOCIAL GOOD AND JAMAICA NEEDS A LOT OF GOOD AT THIS TIME AND FOR THE FUTURE.