UDC signs Segment 2 design contract for Kingston Harbour Walk

KINGSTON — The Urban Development Corporation on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 signed a contract for feasibility studies and detailed design of Segment 2 of the Kingston Harbour Walk, marking a further step toward a continuous, climate-resilient waterfront linking downtown Kingston to Port Royal.

The ceremony was held at the Caribbean Cement Company Limited staff sports club and wellness centre. Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, who was marking his birthday, delivered the keynote address. Also present were Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, State Minister Donovan Williams, East Kingston and Port Royal MP Philip Paulwell, Permanent Secretary Arlene Williams, Kingston Mayor Councillor Andrew Swaby, UDC Chairman Norman Brown, UDC General Manager Robert Hunigan, Caribbean Development Bank representative Dr. Orande Small, and Caribbean Cement Managing Director Jorge Martinez.

UDC Chairman Norman Brown said the assignment covers about 10 kilometres from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to Harbour View, financed by the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. He described Kingston Harbour as the world’s seventh-largest natural harbour and said the wider Harbour Walk aims to open underused shoreline to the public while strengthening climate resilience. Work already under way on the Kingston Waterfront Improvement Project, led by the UDC with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and World Bank financing, forms the first phase. Later stages are expected to extend along the Palisadoes to historic Port Royal.

Dr. Orande Small said Segment 2, advancing from Rockfort to Harbour View, is expected to benefit about 32,000 residents directly and deliver broader gains for more than 660,000 people in the Kingston metropolitan area. The CDB is supporting the consultancy with a US$1.4 million grant from its Special Development Fund, with contributions from the Government of Italy and the European Union through the Caribbean Action for Resilience Enhancement (CARE) programme.

The technical work is being undertaken by the City Forest Felix Aqua Antara joint venture. Brown said the multidisciplinary team will conduct shoreline and hydrographic studies, urban development and stakeholder analysis, environmental and social impact assessments, climate risk reviews, engineering investigations, detailed design, and construction cost estimates.

Holness cast the project as reclaiming Kingston’s waterfront after decades of inland-focused growth, and said designs must be iconic, functional, cost-effective and embraced by communities, fisherfolk and businesses along the corridor, including Caribbean Cement. He linked the waterfront push to wider infrastructure plans, including SPARK 2 upgrades on Sir Florizel Glasspole Boulevard and Windward Road, Port Royal pier and tourism works, and Jamaica’s bid ambitions around the 2031 Women’s World Cup.

Martinez welcomed guests on behalf of Caribbean Cement and pledged the company’s continued partnership with communities such as Rockfort and Harbour View. UDC General Manager Robert Hunigan closed by recalling that a Kingston waterfront redevelopment vision dated to 1968 under then Finance and Planning Minister Edward Seaga, saying the corporation is now delivering on that long-held promise.