‘Silly statements from educated people’

Port Antonio, Portland

On a day when the platform was laid for the start of the construction of the $4.5-billion Boundbrook Urban Centre in Portland, Chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) Lyttleton Shirley slammed critics over comments made about the recently opened Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas.

Shirley, who appeared to be in a militant mood, on Thursday, sought to address what he described as negative comments made by people considered to be highly intelligent, while stating that those critics simply lack knowledge on commercial development.

The FCJ chairman shot down arguments raised by senior members of the People’s National Party (PNP) and others, after the May 15 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Morant Bay, who had suggested that it was a public relations stunt and a pre-election strategy by the Government. According to them, the Morant Bay Urban Centre was at least three months away from its completion.

“You would have seen, at Morant Bay, we had the ribbon-cutting recently. That was very strategic. We gave the clients a three-month period to build out. Why would we wait for everything to finish before we send in the clients?” Shirley questioned.

“We can work concurrently with that three-month period. It is what you call strategic planning and the knowledge of commerce. Those who make careless remarks have no clue about commercial activities... because you hear silly statements being made by persons who are educated and should know better.

“And I want [you] to understand that, in 18 months from now – similar to Morant Bay – three months before the 18 months finish, we will be calling in our clients and saying ‘We not 100 per cent, we might still have landscaping to finish, we might be at 98 [per cent], but we are finished enough for you,” he added.

While pointing out that the labour force will be predominantly from Portland, Shirley reiterated that, three months before the end of the 18-month Boundbrook project, clients will be called in to retrofit their spaces.

Ann-Marie Vaz, member of parliament for Eastern Portland, who was integral in the lobbying efforts for the urban centre, expressed appreciation and gratitude for the project which, according to her, is not only well-needed but will provide employment for the people of Portland.

“From 2017 I have been working to make this a reality and today is one of the proudest days for me, not as a member of parliament, but as a Portlander,” she commented.

“This is going to be the game changer for my East Portland family. This is where shared prosperity for all will happen. This public-private partnership, that has resulted in us being here to kick off the construction work, is what it’s all about. I want to big up the mayor (Paul Thompson) as this is the best performing parish council (municipal corporation) islandwide,” she added.

According to Vaz, more than 3,000 young people, along with others, will gain employment on the completion of the Boundbrook Urban Centre, which will house several government and private offices, including a call centre.

Ground was broken in August 2024 for the construction of the urban centre by China Harbour Engineering Company near Bryan’s Bay.

In the meantime, the FCJ said it would now turn its attention to Westmoreland, St Catherine and St Mary, where it will undertake new developments.

editorial@gleanerjm.com