Holness breaks ground on J$9.6 billion Rose Hall housing scheme in St. Thomas

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has broken ground on the Rose Hall estate housing development in St. Thomas, a J$9.6 billion project that will provide 895 one- and two-bedroom units through the National Housing Trust and New Reserve Properties Limited.

Holness said the administration aims to deliver affordable housing faster and in greater volume than informal settlement can spread. "We are going to outcompete the squatters," he said. "We're going to bring more housing solutions to the market at a faster pace, more affordable, and more accessible."

The scheme sits along the Paul Bogle Highway and is expected to be finished within 24 to 36 months as part of wider efforts to support growth in the parish.

In St. Mary, the Tourism Enhancement Fund is financing a J$27.5 million rehabilitation of the Fontabelle to Guy's Hill Road to improve access to sites such as Sun Valley Plantation and the historic Tamarin Great House. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said authentic cultural experiences remain central to the island's appeal, noting that visitors carry away "the indelible memory and the physical manifestation of the creative expressions of the people of Jamaica."

About 500 students and residents in Gayle and neighbouring communities received free dental care through the Great Shape Inc. Sealant Dental Program, backed by the Sandals Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Robert Montague, minister without portfolio with responsibility for land titling and settlements and member of parliament for St. Mary Western, welcomed the outreach and noted that Sandals also trains apprentices and interns through HEART Trust.

Labour Day work under the theme "one people, one purpose, in all things Jamaica wins" included revitalising Cleghorn's Park in Port Maria, St. Mary; building a new ticketing booth at Carder Park in Portland; and establishing a post office in Cedar Valley, St. Thomas to replace a structure that had served the community for more than four decades.

At St. Thomas Technical High School, students explored skills-based career options during Triple Impact Day through displays and demonstrations from government agencies, training bodies and private firms. Acting principal Rochelle Tiler Brown said the school deliberately invited partners aligned with technical fields. "We were purposeful in getting entities that really showcase the skill areas because as a technical high school, we want our students to gravitate towards that area," she said.