Winchester Business Centre Completed

The second phase of the $1 billion Life of Jamaica (LoJ) Winchester Development project is now complete, with the official opening of the Winchester Business Centre today (June 28).
The 100,000 square-foot building, which boasts 69 business suites for professional offices, light retail, commercial, as well as warehouse facilities, will be open for business within the next month. Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill, in his remarks at the official opening and dedication ceremony held at the project site on Hope Road in Kingston, said that the Winchester Business Centre was a welcome addition to the existing stock of business complexes.
“Through developments such as this, the country is satisfying an important need for business accommodation. This complex will make available, an additional 100,000 square feet of commercial space to help meet the growing demand for such facilities,” he pointed out.
“Important as the accelerated developments taking place in our highways, sea and airports, housing, telecommunications and other areas are, there is also need for us to add quality office and commercial properties,” he added.
He noted that the vast majority of the total businesses in the country fall within the rapidly expanding small and medium size enterprise sector and with the established potential of such enterprises, a facility such as the Winchester Business Centre will soon be expanded.
The Minister also commended LoJ for its vision and commitment to business development in Jamaica. “Whether in the area of life insurance, mortgage and housing investments, or in developing some of our finest properties, Life of Jamaica has consistently demonstrated exceptional capacity since its inception some 37 years ago,” Mr. Pickersgill noted.
“I just want to commend LoJ on taking yet another bold step in demonstrating its commitment to Jamaica and the future of businesses in this country,” he added. President and Chief Executive Officer of LoJ, Richard Byles, also expressed confidence that the facility will do well. “There are 51 light, commercial and professional units and they are 75 per cent sold off,” he disclosed.
“We have a great product, good facilities, good surroundings, great location and we are going to have the management support of Life of Jamaica Property Management to make sure that the property is well managed,” he indicated.
Mr. Byles said that the facility is designed for the small business entrepreneurs as well as professional “so in that way, we hope that we are making a contribution to the development of the business sector in Jamaica.”