Morant Bay Urban Centre to Be Showpiece in Caribbean – FCJ Chairman

With the first business now opened at the Morant Bay Urban Centre in St. Thomas and others progressing steadily, Chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), Lyttleton Shirley, says the facility is poised to be a regional gem.

“We have almost 70 per cent of the complex doing their buildout activities. I would say in a month or two, it’s going to be the centre of attention in the Caribbean,” Mr. Shirley said, during an interview with JIS News at the soft opening of St. Thomas’ first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) location on December 2 at the Urban Centre.

The Chairman highlighted that like other entities, Juici Patties “is finishing up things” and that new players, such as Island Grill, have expressed interest.

In addition to the popular eateries, a number of government agencies and private companies are to also open doors at the 365,000-square-foot facility.

“We have the Municipal Corporation, we have the courthouse, we have the passport office, we have the tax office, and we have the HEART/NSTA Trust,” Mr. Shirley listed.

He also reaffirmed that the Government intends to replicate the St. Thomas model across the island, with a similar execution already under way in Boundbrook, Portland.

“The Prime Minister has empowered us to create this, and we want to replicate this across Jamaica,” he assured.

“This is accomplishment. This is vision. I don’t think you can compare this with anywhere else in the Caribbean. This is believing that our people deserve the best,” Mr. Shirley continued.

He added that international visitors who have toured the development were particularly impressed.

“I brought people from around the world, and when they come here, they can’t believe this is Jamaica… or St. Thomas,” Mr. Shirley said.