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© 2020, Urban Development Corporation

Presentation to Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew – Jan 18

SPEAKING NOTES
HEATHER PINNOCK
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

KIWANIS CLUB OF NORTH KINGSTON PRESENTATION

UPDATE ON THE WORK OF THE UDC IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON, OCHO RIOS AND MONTEGO BAY
JANUARY 18, 2017
6:30PM
POLICE OFFICERS CLUB, HOPE ROAD

 

GOOD MODERATOR
MR KINGSLEY G. SIMPSON DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENT
OTHER KIWANIANS AND YOUR RESPECTIVE PRESIDENTS
SPECIALLY INVITED GUESTS
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

ONCE AGAIN, I MUST APOLOGISE ON BEHALF OF OUR GENERAL MANAGER DR DAMIAN GRAHAM, WHO REGRETTABLY COULD NOT BE WITH YOU THIS EVENING BUT HAS ENTRUSTED ME WITH THE RESPONSIBILTY OF SHARING THE WORK OF THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE COMPELLING VISION WHICH IS DRIVING US AT THE CORPORATION.

THE UDC IS APPRECIATIVE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON OUR MISSION AND WORK ESPECIALLY ON THE EVE OF OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAKING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN JAMAICA. TIME WILL ONLY PERMIT A MENTION OF THE STORY OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES THAT HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE HOMES, SCHOOLS, SPORTS, CULTUAL, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INFRASTRUCTURES WE HAVE BUILT OR THE ATTRACTIONS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES DEVELOPED. I WILL NOT SPEND THE TIME TODAY TO SING ABOUT THE PAST BUT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE REMAIN ANCHORED TO OUR LEGACY WHILE WORKING TO DEVELOP OUR COUNTRY PRESENTLY AND MAKE GREATER IMPACTS IN THE FUTURE.

THE UDC TEAM IS NOW WORKING TO SECURE THE NEXT 50 YEARS AND BEYOND. WHEN WE WERE BIRTHED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT ON MARCH 21, 1968 WE WERE MANDATED TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL PRIORITIES. WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO THIS MANDATE IN OUR OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AREAS OF DOWNTOWN KINGSTON, HELLSHIRE AND CAYMANAS, ST CATHERINE, OCHO RIOS, ST. ANN AND MONTEGO BAY, ST. JAMES WITH FALMOUTH BEING A SPECIAL AREA OF FOCUS AS WELL. I WISH TO UPDATE ON THE OUR CURRENT WORK IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON, OCHO RIOS, MONTEGO BAY AND OUR THIRD CITY PROJECT WHICH LOOKS TO THE FUTURE.

DOWNTOWN KINGSTON

IN DOWNTOWN KINSTON, THE MAJOR FOCUS POINTS OF OUR CURRENT MASTER PLAN INCLUDE  A MULTI MODAL TRANSPORT HUB, COMERCIAL CENTRE INCLUSIVE OF CONSIDERATION FOR ICT/BPO, WATERFRONT ENTERTAINMENT AND HOTELS, MARINA AND CRUISE SHIP PIER, MULTI-STOREY PARKING GARAGE, OFFICE COMPLEX, APARTMENT COMPLEX. THESE ALL FALL WITHIN A DEVELOPMENT AREA.

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.

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 ALSO KNOW AS TIP, WHICH HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR DOWNTOWN KINGSTON. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS TO FACILITE THE PROCESS OF URBAN REVITALISATION.

THIS TIP PROGRAMME PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR GRANTING INCENTIVES TO THOSE WHO INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT, REHABILITATION OR REFURBISHING OF LANDS OR BUILDINGS IN THE DECLARED SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS. IT 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.

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.  

THE APPLICATION PROCESS 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 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 FOR THE KINGSTON TIP STARTS AT THE 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: 

  1. 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
  2. INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT – A 33% TAX CREDIT ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT WHICH IS OFFSET AGAINST THE INVESTOR’S INCOME TAX LIABILITY
  3. TAX FREE RENTAL INCOME- OFFERS RELIEF FROM INCOME TAX ON RENTAL INCOME FROM THE NEW OR REFURBISHED
  4. EXEMPTION FROM TRANSFER TAX AND STAMP DUTY

WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE PERSONS AND COMPANIES TO MAKE USE OF THE INCENTIVES SIMILAR TO COMPANIES SUCH AS GRACEKENNEDY, COURTS, KONVERTA LIMITED AMONG OTHERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP DOWNTOWN KINGSTON A LIVING BREATHING ORGANIC CITY THAT IS PEOPLE FOCUSED IN ITS DEVELOPMENT OF HARDSCAPES. WITH THIS IN MIND, THE UDC IS PREPARING TO GO TO THE MARKET IN EARLY 2018 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 BE OCCUPIED BY ENTREPRENUERS AS WE FACILITATE THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

ALSO DOWNTOWN ON THE WATERFRONT, 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 ALREADY COMPLETED. THE PROJECT IS VALUED AT J$3.9 BILLION OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY J$3.2 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 ABOUND 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 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 AND CCASA TO COLLABORATE IN RELATION TO THE PRELIMINARY PHASE TO 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 PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR THE HEROES PARK WAS COMPLETED IN LATE 2017. LATER PHASES WILL SEE THE FULL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA PROCUREMENT SYSTEM OF LOCAL EXPERTS WHO WILL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN 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. BOTH WILL BE HANDED OVER IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE COMMERCE WITHIN THE MARKET DISTRICT.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON FACILITATED BY THE UDC THROUGH SALE OF ITS PROPERTY INCLUDE THE GRACEKENNEDY HEADQUARTERS BEING DEVELOPED AND THE MIXED USE CARIBBEAN MARKETPLACE BEING BUILT AT THE FORMER OCEANA HOTEL. 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 ALL ENTITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA COMBINING 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 ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE ISLAND.

OCHO RIOS

IN THE GARDEN PARISH OF ST ANN, THE UDC HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE TOWN OF OCHO RIOS FOR SEVERAL DECADES TRANSFORMING THE SPACE FROM A SLEEPY FISHING VILLAGE INTO A VIBRANT RESORT CENTRE WITH WORLD FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS SUCH AS THE DUNN’S RIVER FALLS AND PARK WHICH RECENTLY ADDED A CENTRAL GARDENS AREA COMPLETE WITH WATERSLIDE, SPLASH PAD AND 12 KIOSKS.

AS PART OF THE OCHO RIOS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WHICH HAS ALREADY SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TURTLE RIVER ROAD AND UPGRADES TO THE PIER, WE ARE CARRYING OUT WORKS ON THE 300 METRES PROMENADE WHICH IS ON THE SEAWARD SIDE BETWEEN THE ENTRY TO THE MARINA AND THE OCHO RIOS BAY BEACH. THIS PROJECT IS VALUED AT JMD$133 MILLION DOLLARS AND UPON COMPLETION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2018 WILL FEATURE MULTI-COLOURED INTERLOCKING PAVERS, AREAS FOR SEATING AND SHOPPING KIOSKS. 

WE ARE ALSO EXTENDING THE IMPROVEMENTS INTO THE TOWN OF OCHO RIOS THROUGH THE UPGRADING AND REPAVING OF MAIN STREET AS WELL AS UPGRADING OF DRAINAGE AND WATER MAINS, LANDSCAPING WORKS AND WIDENING OF SIDEWALKS. THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS EIGHT (8) MONTH PROJECT WHICH IS VALUED AT JMD$161 MILLION WILL SEE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COLLABORATING IN THIS PHASE EXTENDING FOR 400 METRES FROM THE ISLAND VILLAGE COMPLEX TO THE OCEAN VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE.

THE UDC HAS DESIGN AND GENERAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAIN STREET WORKS WITH THE NATIONAL WORKS AGENCY CARRYING OUT THE ROLE OF THE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR AND THE NATIONAL WATER COMMISSION MONITORING / SUPERVISING THE PIPELINE REPLACEMENT WORKS. BOTH THE OCHO RIOS MAIN STREET AND PROMENADE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE FUNDED BY THE TOURISM ENHANCEMENT FUND ON A WIDER SCALE, SOME JMD$1.2 BILLION OVERALL WILL BE SPENT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN IMPROVING THE OCHO RIOS FARMER’S MARKET. ANOTHER $2.5 BILLION WILL BE SPENT TO IMPROVE THE REYNOLDS PIER BY THE PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA SO THAT IT CAN COMFORTABLY TAKE CRUISE SHIPS.

APPROXIMATELY $80 MILLION WILL ALSO BE EXPENDED BY THE UDC TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ARTISAN VILLAGE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO DEVELOP PINEAPPLE PLACE FOR THE RELOCATING OF SEVERAL MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CURRENTLY HOUSED ALONG THE WATERFRONT TO LANDS OUTSIDE THE ZONE.

MONTEGO BAY

THE UDC IS ALSO WORKING IN MONTEGO BAY THROUGH TWO SPECIAL PROJECTS, A GROYNE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME THROUGH PART FUNDING FROM THE KFW DEVELOPMENT BANK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE (CCCCC). THE PROJECT WHICH WILL BEGIN BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2018 WILL SEE THE REPAIR OF ONE OF THREE GROYNES WHICH ACT AS PROTECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG SECTIONS OF THE MONTEGO BAY WATERFRONT IN ST. JAMES.

THE SECOND SPECIAL PROJECT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLOSED HARBOUR (DUMP UP) BEACH AS PART OF THE UDC’S MONTEGO BAY RE-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, IN DOWNTOWN MONTEGO BAY, ST. JAMES. THE INTENTION IS TO CONVERT THE 16-ACRE PROPERTY INTO A WORLD CLASS RECREATIONAL SPACE WITH AMENITIES THAT WILL ALLOW FOR IT TO OPERATE AS A FREE ACCESS LICENSED PUBLIC BEACH AND MULTI-PURPOSE PARK. THE BEACH WILL BE THE STARTING POINT OF A PUBLIC COASTAL PARK SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE OLD HOSPITAL PARK, WALTER FLETCHER BEACH AND GUN POINT BEACH.  WORKS ARE PROPOSED TO BEGIN IN THE 3RD QUARTER OF 2018

THIRD CITY

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST; THE UDC IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH THE PLANNING EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JAMAICA’S THIRD CITY AS MANDATED BY PRIME MINISTER ANDREW HOLNESS IN JULY 2016. THE CALL WAS MADE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT THE DOMINANCE ENJOYED BY KINGSTON WHICH IS THE CENTRE OF GOVERNANCE AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL HUB, HAD CREATED AN IMBALANCE WITH OTHER LOCATIONS BASED ON ITS EXCESSIVE DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE ISSUED INVITATIONS FOR CONSULTANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR BIDS FOR A MULTI-CRITERIA SITE SUITABILITY MODEL TO SELECT THE SUITABLE SITE FOR JAMAICA’S THIRD CITY AND ALSO FOR BIDDERS IN THE AREA OF A PRE-HORIZON SCANNING AND FORESIGHTING STUDY. THE TENDER PERIOD IS STILL OPEN FOR THE PRE-HORIZON SCANNING STUDY AND PERSONS MAY WISH TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.UDCJA.COM  FOR MORE INFORMATION.

INFORMATION ON OTHER TENDER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE VIA THE WEBSITE TO INCLUDE AN INVITATION FOR CONTRACTORS TO BUILD THE CLOSED HARBOUR BEACH PARK IN MONTEGO BAY AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF US AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING THE VISION WORK.  SPEAKING OF VISION, LET US ENVISION THAT IT IS ALREADY 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 CENTRE 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 BUILT USING LEED PRINCIPLES IN A CITY WHICH IS THE LEADING CENTRE FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN THE HEMISPHERE.

JAMAICA HAS BECOME THE 4TH LOGISTIC HUB WITH NUMEROUS URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME INTERVENTIONS LED 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 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 SOUGHT 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 PROGRAMME 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 CENTRES. 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 LATIN AMERICA 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.

THE KIWANIS MOVEMENT IN JAMAICA AND INTERNATIONALLY IS BUILT ON THE PLATFORM OF SERVICE TO ALL. YOUR EXCELLENT RECORD OF VOLUNTEERISM TRANSLATES INTO SOCIAL GOOD WHICH JAMAICA NEEDS A LOT OF AT THIS TIME AND FOR THE FUTURE.  WE AT THE UDC SEE AN ALIGNMENT OF OUR RESPECTIVE MISSIONS, AS TOGETHER WE WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE.

THANK YOU KIWANIANS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, WE VALUE YOU AS A PARTNER IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN WITH TEAM UDC IN SHARING THE MESSAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE MANY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES BEING MADE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ISLAND AND IN SO DOING WE WILL TOGETHER CONTINUE MAKING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN REGION.