Phase One of Multimillion-dollar West End Road Rehabilitation Project Opened

Phase one of the multimillion dollar West End Road Rehabilitation Project in Negril, Westmoreland, was officially opened on Thursday (July 17), enhancing road access and renewing prospects for one of Jamaica’s leading tourism hubs.

The rehabilitated roadway features upgraded drainage systems, curb walls, and resurfaced pavement, supporting smoother vehicular access and community mobility.

The project was financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), with oversight from the National Works Agency (NWA). Phase two is slated to begin shortly.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Senator the Hon. Delano Seiveright, underscored the town’s importance to Jamaica’s tourism sector.

“It’s a small community that contributes nearly a third of the $4.3 billion in earnings from tourism. Jamaica cannot function effectively without a functioning Negril and a functioning West End,” he said.

“This [project] is part of the broader programme that the Ministry of Tourism has been undertaking across the country, ensuring that the infrastructural needs of Negril are attended to so that small business operators and everyday Jamaicans can benefit from tourism,” the State Minister explained.

Senator Seiveright noted that the roadworks support long-term growth and sustainability in Negril, reinforcing the town’s status as a key resort destination, adding that “we’re going to complete the entire [area]… and we’re also improving street lighting, roundabouts, and general beautification”.

For his part, TEF Executive Director, Dr. Carey Wallace, emphasised that the Government’s tourism investments are strategically aimed at long-term infrastructure improvements and meaningful local development.

“We build with curb walls, drainage, and proper surfacing, so that the road lasts 20 or 30 years. This is an investment in infrastructure to ensure that there is more extension of the West End, an expansion of Negril… so that more and more Jamaicans… can get a piece of the tourism pie,” he noted.

Dr. Wallace added that strategic infrastructure upgrades are key to maintaining Jamaica’s competitive edge in the global tourism market.

“Jamaica has the highest repeat visitor rate in the Caribbean, and the number-one reason they give is the people; infrastructure like this pulls visitors right into the heart of the people,” he said.