Growth Ministry to Improve Ease and Speed of Doing Business

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation will enable faster decision-making and improve ease and speed of doing business.

Mr. Holness was making an address at the grand opening of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Friday, April 15.

He said the Ministry was created to place under one umbrella, all the critical agencies needed to “make the pathways for decision-making clearer,” leading to more development and investments in the local economy.

Subjects under the Ministry are: economic planning and monitoring, investment promotion, agro business, factory construction, logistics hub, small business and special economic zones development, among others.

The Ministry also includes the Land, Environment, Climate Change, Housing, Water and Works portfolios.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister congratulated Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust Ltd. for facilitating the development of the Courtyard Marriott.

He noted that the hotel, which officially started operations in December 2015, is a “fabulous addition” to the stock of rooms in Kingston and serves to add value to brand Jamaica.

“Jamaica is proud of you. Do more investments like this,” he urged.

The Courtyard by Marriott has over 1, 900-square feet of meeting room space and offers 129 guest rooms.

General Manager Koen Hietbrink, in welcoming guests at the grand opening, said the property was designed to reduce its impact on the environment.

The hotel is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in Jamaica, setting a high standard for energy conservation, water efficiency and overall environmental sustainability.

The United States-based green building certification programme is one of the most popular used worldwide.

Mr. Hietbrink said the hotel is also committed to “buying Jamaican,” as all furniture, fittings and staff uniforms were purchased from local manufacturers.

A number of young people from at-risk communities are also employed at the property through partnership with the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) in the Ministry of National Security.

The grand opening was also attended by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Ed Bartlett; Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz; as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the business community.