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UDC COMMITTED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MONTEGO BAY WATERFRONT

The multimillion dollar redevelopment of the earmarked Montego Bay Waterfront spearheaded by the nation’s chief urban planning agency the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is advancing; this was the sentiment expressed by Mr. Winston Dear, Director of the UDC and Chairman of the UDC’s Montego Bay Advisory Committee, during a recent interview focusing on the redevelopment plans for the region.  

The Corporation which noted its continued commitment to the more than forty year relationship established with the island’s second city announced that its focus for the 2018/2019 financial year under the Montego Bay Waterfront Redevelopment Programme will be the Closed Harbour Beach Park Development, Phase one of the Groyne Rehabilitation Project and the leasing of the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre. 

The Closed Harbour Beach Park also known as “Dump-up Beach.” in Montego Bay is to benefit from a redevelopment programme which will transform it into a world class recreational space, with amenities that will allow it to operate as a free access licenced public beach and multi-purpose park. According to Mr. Dear, the project is in the procurement phase where prequalified short listed contractors are to enter into competitive bidding. He noted that construction should commence in the third quarter of the 2018/2019 financial year and assured that the UDC will update the public as to the awarding of the contract.    

Mr. Dear in alluding to the Corporation’s vision for Montego Bay becoming a leading city in the Western Hemisphere through the minimizing of physical and social blight, improving economic and social conditions, pointed to the USD$3M Groyne Rehabilitation Project geared at the restoration of the significantly deteriorated groynes along the waterfront. These structures he clarified are necessary for the protection of the coastline and the rehabilitation project will, as well, explore eco-system based adaptation interventions to complement the repair works. In respect to the project, the UDC has secured USD $600,000 part funding from the KfW Development Bank through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to carry out rehabilitative works. This grant the Corporation noted will facilitate the first phase of the project which targets the groyne at Closed Harbour Beach.  

The UDC’s vision and plans for the redevelopment of the Montego Bay Waterfront has received endorsement of the St, James Municipal Corporation, the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders in the Montego Bay region.

The Corporation remains committed to its mandate of making development happen for the people of Jamaica and on March 21, 2018 will celebrate its fiftieth year.

For further information, please contact:
The Corporate Relations and Marketing Department
Urban Development Corporation
12 Ocean Boulevard
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel 🙁 876) 656-8031
Email cr@udcja.com
www.facebook.com/urbandevelopmentcorporation

March 1, 2018