New Town Centre for Falmouth, Trelawny

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced that a new town centre is to be built for Falmouth, Trelawny.

He advised that the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) has identified 50 acres of land in close proximity to the town for the development, which will be similar to that planned for Morant Bay, St. Thomas, which was announced in 2017.

The Prime Minister made the announcement during his 2018/19 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 20), under the theme: ‘Prosperity in Action’.

Mr. Holness said the proposed developments are in keeping with the Government’s policy decision to re-establish Jamaica’s town centres on a more sustainable basis, with smarter and better laid-out facilities and infrastructure.

This, he said, is in light of the fact that many of these historic towns have outgrown the physical infrastructure and planning laid at their inception.

The Prime Minister warned that if left to evolve on their own under existing planning regulations and increasing urbanisation demands on infrastructure, “these towns will become unsustainable and unliveable”, adding that “indeed, this is now the case”.

“Old Falmouth has significant heritage and historical value, which, if properly preserved and utilised, could see the significant expansion of the town as a tourism, cultural and lifestyle centre,” Mr. Holness said.