Convention Centre for Montego Bay

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said today (May 1), that ground would be broken next month for the construction of an 86,000 sq. ft. Convention Centre in Montego Bay, St. James, at a cost of approximately $1.7 billion.
Mrs. Simpson Miller made the announcement during her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives.
She pointed out that the convention centre would be built at Rose Hall in the parish and formed part of several projects to be undertaken by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
The Prime Minister said the centre should ease the critical shortage of convention space and serve as a lucrative project, both for business and tourism interests, as more business, professional, religious and other groups are expected to take advantage of the opportunity to combine work and play.
Mrs. Simpson Miller also disclosed that the UDC would construct a modern transportation centre to the west of the City of Kingston, on lands located between Port Royal Street and Water Lane. She said the $300 million project would be built to accommodate 400 buses and would involve road upgrading, drainage and pedestrian crossing.
The new transportation centre will replace the bus terminal located at Parade and is to be followed by a major refurbishing of St. William Grant Park, which is expected to cost approximately $80 million.
Other UDC projects announced by the Prime Minister, for which construction is scheduled to commence next month include, the building of a civic centre in Port Maria at a cost of $128 Million and the construction of phase two of the Montego Bay sports complex, which involves the building of spectator stands, changing rooms, outdoor courts and parking. This is projected to cost $419 million.