St. Thomas Benefits from $350m KFC Investment and Jobs for 55 Residents at Morant Bay Urban Centre
By: , December 3, 2025
Photo: Raymond Simpson
Jamaica’s newest Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant, situated within the Morant Bay Urban Centre in St. Thomas.
Photo: Raymond Simpson
St. Thomas resident, Garcia Gayle (second right), and her four‑month‑old son, Naeem Reid (left), were gifted during the soft launch of the new Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Morant Bay on Tuesday (December 2). Also pictured (from second left) are KFC Digital Marketing Officer, Aaliyah England; Garcia Gayle’s mother, Sandra Gayle; and KFC Marketing Officer, Kandine West. The new restaurant is situated within the Morant Bay Urban Centre.The Full Story
The parish of St. Thomas is benefiting from a multimillion-dollar investment courtesy of Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), local operators of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
The entity hosted a soft opening of its newest branch in Morant Bay, the parish capital, on Tuesday (December 2).
Situated within the new Morant Bay Urban Centre, the undertaking represents an investment of $350 million in the location and jobs for 55 persons, according to ROJ’s Marketing Manager, Andrei Roper.
This milestone marks the 45th KFC restaurant to be opened in Jamaica and the first established in St. Thomas.
Mr. Roper, noting that Jamaica continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, underscored that the expansion of KFC into a new parish is a clear signal that “brighter days are ahead”.
“We know it’s been very, very, very challenging over the last month for the entire nation, in particular friends of the west and also persons who were impacted in the parish of St. Thomas. So, we’re really glad to be here in St. Thomas, continuing the investment, continuing our belief in the community and continuing our expansion, and just sending the message that brighter days are ahead and more growth is ahead,” he stated.
Mr. Roper advised that Tuesday’s soft opening was designed to provide staff with the opportunity to acclimatise to the new location, noting that a grand opening will follow “a little later in the month”.
“We’re glad to be here bringing the finger-licking good taste of KFC to St. Thomas,” he further said.
The strong turnout of patrons reflected the community’s warm embrace of the new branch and their gratitude for ROJ’s gesture.
Bags filled with prizes were presented to patrons achieving notable ‘firsts’, including the first customer to use the drive‑through at the new branch.
Among the patrons was Nicholas Chambers, a resident of Botany Bay in St. Thomas, who described the branch’s opening as “a wonderful and historic moment for the parish”.
He added, “I’m a fan of KFC, but I am a bigger fan of St. Thomas,” in his comments to JIS News.
Garcia Gayle of Pear Tree River, accompanied by her four‑month‑old son and her mother, Sandra Gayle, also expressed enthusiasm for the branch’s opening.
“The customer service was top-notch; they really interacted with us on a professional level. The meal was delicious too and… the experience was really nice,” she told JIS News.
Meanwhile, Mr. Roper conveyed his appreciation for the enthusiasm demonstrated by the residents.
“I’m looking forward, not just to continued support from the community but continuing to create more jobs, more opportunities, more partnerships with organisations, not just in Morant Bay but in St. Thomas. We are looking forward to a fantastic partnership with our friends in what was once [regarded as] ‘the forgotten parish’ but is a forgotten parish no more. So, big things to come in St. Thomas,” he declared.
Interestingly, December 2 also marked the date last year when the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) commenced operations in the eastern parish for the very first time.
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is a landmark $6‑billion development in St. Thomas, which was officially opened by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in May 2025.
Constructed on a 25‑acre property that formerly housed the Goodyear factory, the Urban Centre represents one of the largest projects ever undertaken in the parish.
It integrates government offices, commercial spaces, retail outlets, and service hubs, strategically designed to decentralise development and deliver modern infrastructure to St. Thomas.
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is envisioned as a multipurpose hub that supports business growth, public services, and community engagement.
The project forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to decentralise growth beyond Kingston, ensuring that rural and eastern parishes benefit from modern infrastructure and expanded opportunities.
Positioned as a catalyst for employment, investment, and improved access to services in St. Thomas, the Centre represents a transformative step in advancing equity and development across Jamaica.
