Kingston, Jamaica, May 19, 2026 – The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will continue its longstanding support for Labour Day activities this year through a series of community enhancement, infrastructure improvement and stakeholder engagement initiatives across several parishes, including remedial works at Ferry Basic School, and support activities within hurricane-affected and strategically significant communities.
Approved by the UDC Board of Directors as part of the Corporation’s corporate social responsibility programme, the Labour Day initiatives will see approximately J$3 million allocated towards projects aimed at improving educational facilities, supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening the Corporation’s engagement within areas connected to its national development mandate.
At the center of this year’s programme is the Ferry Basic School, located in close proximity to the Raintree Commercial Complex development area. The school was identified following assessments which highlighted a number of infrastructural, environmental and operational challenges affecting both students and staff. The institution also serves an important role as a community support space for residents within the surrounding area.
Works to be undertaken at the school will include the rehabilitation and upgrading of kitchen and bathroom facilities, installation of new doors and windows, painting and refurbishment works, drainage improvement activities and the enhancement of recreational spaces to create a safer and more functional environment for students and teachers.
In addition to the Ferry Basic School project, the Corporation will also support Labour Day activities and community interventions within the hurricane-affected parishes of St. James, Trelawny, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth as part of ongoing recovery and community resilience efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Strategic community engagement activities will also be undertaken within the Corporation’s operational and development areas in Portland and St. Ann.
Chairman of the UDC Board, Norman Brown, said the initiatives reflect the Corporation’s continued commitment to ensuring that development remains connected to the needs of communities and the people they serve.
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“For the Urban Development Corporation, Labour Day is about partnership, community spirit and contributing in practical ways to the improvement of spaces that directly impact the lives of Jamaicans. Whether through support for schools, community infrastructure or recovery initiatives, these activities reflect our wider commitment to responsible development and meaningful national engagement,” Chairman Brown said.
He noted that the intervention at Ferry Basic School also reflects the Corporation’s broader philosophy that development should positively impact the communities surrounding major projects and investment areas.
As the UDC continues to undertake transformational development projects across Jamaica, it is equally important that we maintain strong relationships with the communities connected to those developments and support initiatives that contribute to social upliftment and long-term community wellbeing,” Chairman Brown added.
General Manager of the UDC, Bobby Honeyghan, said this year’s programme of work was intentionally designed to align with the Corporation’s wider strategic objectives surrounding sustainable development, stakeholder engagement and social responsibility.
“The UDC’s mandate extends beyond physical infrastructure and commercial development. Community investment, social partnership and support for vulnerable communities also remain critical parts of our work. Through these Labour Day initiatives, we are supporting projects that are practical and aligned with the Corporation’s broader national development mission,” the General Manager said.
He added that the Corporation deliberately incorporated support for hurricane-affected communities into this year’s programme as part of its ongoing commitment to national recovery and resilience-building efforts.
“Many communities are still navigating the effects of Hurricane Melissa, and the UDC remains committed to playing its part in supporting recovery, strengthening communities and contributing to efforts that improve quality of life across Jamaica,” Honeyghan stated.
The Corporation said this year’s Labour Day programme also aligns with broader national priorities focused on volunteerism, resilience, community partnership and sustainable development, while reinforcing the UDC’s role as one of Jamaica’s leading development agencies committed to both physical transformation and social impact.
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