Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the national importance of preserving Jamaica’s heritage assets while ensuring that they deliver meaningful economic benefits to the people.
Speaking at the UDC Board Retreat on April 30, Prime Minister Holness was emphatic in his position on the status of Dunn’s River.
“Dunn’s River is a heritage site. It is for the people of Jamaica, and it must never be held privately.”
At the same time, he stressed that heritage assets must be managed in a way that unlocks their full value for national development.
“The people must get the benefit of it in terms of unlocking its economic capacity,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Holness also highlighted opportunities for inclusive development, referencing Belmont Cove, also known as Little Dunn’s River, and the importance of integrating existing operators into formal systems.
“It is not the objective of the government to displace those people because they are being enterprising, but we need to bring it under effective management.”
He outlined an approach that combines structure, training, and inclusion.
“Bring them in, train them, put them in the right uniform, and allow them to operate within the space so that they can become wardens of the asset.”
The Prime Minister’s vision reflects a model of development that balances preservation, economic opportunity, and community participation.
