Youth Minister Highlights Importance Of New Highway

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, says the new highway traversing through sections of South East St. Ann will be instrumental in increasing productivity and enhancing tourism.

Addressing community members and stakeholders at the official opening of the Rio Hoe Community Cultural Centre,  in Moneague, St. Ann, on February 18, Ms. Hanna said the highway, which will bring people from “north to south,” is exactly the type of road network that will benefit  the area,  adding that a lot more people will now have even better opportunities for employment.

“We have Nine Miles, the birthplace of Bob Marley, where we should now be seeing a lot more visitors. We have a world class playing field here in Moneague and we have other activities here that will make tourists want to come. This new highway is exactly what we have been waiting for,” she said.

“What we are seeing here is a road network that will connect all the dots and benefit  Jamaica on a whole. There will be an increase in productivity, where people will get to where they are going in a timely manner and there will also be the matter of people  coming into the  area do business. There is bound to be a trickledown effect that will benefit everyone,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism,  Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said  the  new highway will eventually join up with the North Coast Highway in Drax Hall St. Ann, and this will benefit tourism immensely, and should see a lot more tourists coming through the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

“A lot of the hotel owners that I have spoken to are very happy with what is taking place with our new road network,” Dr. McNeill said.

“These are really exciting times for tourism. We should also remember that this new road network also coincides with the over 14,000 new hotel rooms we have coming on stream over the next couple of years,” he said.