By Andrew Clunis
A raft of development projects has been announced for the city of Montego Bay in Western Jamaica.
The announcement was made on Thursday, March 19, by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness during his contribution to the 2026/27 national Budget Debate in the House of Representatives.
Ranging from tourist attractions to regular infrastructure projects, the second city is set to undergo a total transformation.
Mr Holness said: “Montego Bay is our tourism capital — and it is time we undertook new investments to revitalise and secure its position as the leading destination in the Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa inflicted severe damage across Montego Bay, particularly in the coastal communities of Catherine Hall, West Green, and Freeport.
“The destruction was painful, but it has given us something valuable – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this corridor in a way that is bolder and more resilient. But we must first protect this city which is a key pillar of Jamaica’s economy.
Montego Bay has long been vulnerable to flooding — its rivers, when overwhelmed, have repeatedly brought misery to communities. The Government will therefore undertake significant investment in river training works to contain, manage, and direct floodwaters away from communities, commercial areas, and critical infrastructure.”
The city of Montego Bay has deteriorated over the years with the metropolis suffering from urban blight with high congestion, poor garbage collections and other signs of urban decay Mr Holness spoke to the development of the more aesthetically pleasing areas of the city but stopped short of what is happening in the urban centres.
Mr Holness added: “The Montego Freeport and its surrounding area represent one of the most strategically valuable and scenically spectacular stretches of real estate in the entire Caribbean. It is home to our mixed use cargo and cruise port and the Montego Bay Freezone, and is flanked by major hotels, premium residential developments, and a forthcoming 28-storey mixed-use hotel and residential complex — a powerful signal of the confidence that investors already place in this corridor.
“At the same time, the soon-to-be completed Montego Bay Perimeter Road is fundamentally reshaping the economic geography of the wider region, opening new corridors and unlocking additional lands for investment that were previously out of reach.
“Our plan is to gradually relocate the BPO and light industrial activities in the Freezone to new, purpose-built facilities along the Montego Bay Perimeter Road — catalysing vibrant economic activity along that emerging corridor while providing modern, world-class, purpose-designed spaces.
This will free up prime waterfront lands on the Freeport peninsula for their highest and best use. We envision a landmark mixed-use development — commercial, retail, and premium residential — seamlessly woven into the urban fabric of the city, comparable in ambition and elegance to the celebrated Brickell waterfront in Miami.
Mr Holness announced the plan for a performing arts theatre — purpose-built to showcase the full
richness of Jamaican music, folklore, and culture to the world.
He said: “The vision does not stop at Freeport. What we are proposing is the transformation of the entire coastal corridor — from the Freeport, sweeping eastward to Harmony Beach Park, along the waterfront, and all the way to the iconic Hip Strip. This breathtaking stretch of Caribbean coastline will be unified into one seamless, world-class leisure, entertainment, and shopping corridor. The “top road” will be dualised to handle traffic efficiently, while the “bottom road” will be progressively pedestrianised — as will the Hip Strip itself.
The result will be a walkable waterfront of rare beauty and vitality — connecting the cruise port all the way to Harmony Beach Park and Doctor's Cave Beach and every restaurant, bar, gallery, and shop along the Hip Strip.
Visitors stepping off a cruise ship will be able to walk, uninterrupted, through a world-class leisure corridor, spending more, staying longer, and leaving with memories of a city that rivals the finest resort destinations.
And most importantly, the people of Montego Bay will be able to enjoy the beauty of their own waterfront in safety and convenience and benefit in an orderly manner from the economic opportunities it will create.
We are also examining ways to enhance the Elegant Corridor between the Sangster
International Airport to the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The corridor is home to some of our finest hotel properties, championship golf courses, the Rose Hall Great House, as well as the Convention Centre. However, the main road – which now functions essentially as a highway — cuts directly between the beachfront resorts on the sea side and the wealth of amenities on the land side.
The Government is examining solutions to this challenge, including the development of over or underpasses at strategic points along the corridor to safely and conveniently connect the sea side and land side and to create natural sound dampening barriers to reduce the noise pollution generated by the highway.”