Eastern Jamaica projects advance in housing, education, health and urban renewal

Several development and public-service projects are advancing across eastern Jamaica, led by a $1.99 billion housing project at Galina in St Mary that is expected to provide about 360 housing solutions near Port Maria and Oracabessa.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness broke ground for the scheme, which is being undertaken through a partnership involving the National Housing Trust and Henan Fifth Construction Group Jamaica Limited. He described the development as “a deliberate and strategic investment in people”, saying housing supports economic growth, stable communities and national resilience.

In Portland, Port Antonio Primary received a 2026 Toyota Coaster bus from the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica. The vehicle, valued at about US$73,000, was provided under Japan’s Grassroots Human Security Grant Programme in partnership with the National Education Trust. Parliamentary Secretary Senator Marlon Morgan said reliable transport is important to help students get to and from school safely. Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Koichi Maruyama, said the bus would assist students in travelling to school and taking part in activities while focusing on learning.

British High Commissioner Alicia Herbert also visited St Thomas as part of efforts to better understand Jamaica. She said an effective envoy must understand the Jamaican people, the economy, the culture and the shared history between Jamaica and the United Kingdom. Herbert said St Thomas has special significance because many people from the parish answered Britain’s call during the post-Second World War rebuilding period.

St Mary and St Thomas also marked Vaccination Week in the Americas 2026. In St Mary, residents accessed services including blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing and HIV testing at a health fair. In St Thomas, users praised the smooth service at health facilities, including the Morant Bay Health Centre. Health officials said immunisation remains important for protecting communities from preventable diseases.

Factories Corporation of Jamaica chairman Littleton Shirley reported that the Boundbrook Urban Centre in Portland is 51 per cent complete and is being designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes while responding to difficult terrain. He said the project is intended to set a development standard for Port Antonio. Shirley also said the 500,000-square-foot Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas is about 80 per cent occupied, with most spaces certified for utilities as final build-outs and defect works continue.