National Heroes Park Can Become Major Attraction – Dr. Davies
By: , November 9, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Dave Reid
Minister of Transport, Work and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies (seated 2nd left); Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott (seated 2nd right); and State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford (seated right), sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the $2.5 billion redevelopment of the National Heroes Park, during a ceremony at the site on November 3. Others are: Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Clyde Harrison (seated left), while standing (from left) are: Member of Parliament for West Kingston, Desmond McKenzie; Minister with Responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy; Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew, Hon. Julian Robinson; Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna; and Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites.The Facts
- The $2.5 billion project, which will be undertaken in phases, will include a Parliament building, a recreational area, and improved spaces to house monuments, the remains of National Heroes, Prime Ministers and Jamaican cultural icons.
- Minister Davies, who heads the group coordinating the development, said the project to transform the park into a world-class facility will serve to engender greater appreciation among Jamaicans, particularly the youth, for the country’s rich history.
The Full Story
Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, says the re-development of the National Heroes Park in Kingston will transform the site into a prime visitor attraction.
“Given its rich history…this can become a major attraction in the rebirth of Kingston as a tourism centre,” the Minister said.
He was addressing a ceremony held at the historic park on Tuesday (November 3) where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and contract were signed with various stakeholders for work to begin at the site.
The $2.5 billion project, which will be undertaken in phases, will include a Parliament building, a recreational area, and improved spaces to house monuments, the remains of National Heroes, Prime Ministers and Jamaican cultural icons.
There will be six main pedestrian access gates, which will bear the names of the National Heroes, with the main gate to be named after the Rt. Excellencies Norman Manley, and Sir Alexander Bustamante.
Minister Davies, who heads the group coordinating the development, said the project to transform the park into a world-class facility will serve to engender greater appreciation among Jamaicans, particularly the youth, for the country’s rich history.
He is urging residents in the surrounding communities to treasure the facility. “Preserve it, do not vandalise it, because it is not somebody else’s park; it is the park for the people,” Minister Davies said.
Funding for the project has so far come from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the CHASE Fund, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), with commitments from other groups and entities to offer support in cash and kind.