Caribbean News
144 Housing Units to be Constructed in Tivoli Gardens
#Kingston, November 25, 2023 – A total of 144 housing units will be constructed in Tivoli Gardens, Western Kingston, at a cost of $2.8 billion, under the National Housing Trust (NHT) Community Renewal Project.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; Minister of Local Government and Community Development, and Member of Parliament for Kingston Western, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams; Chairman of the NHT, Linval Freeman; Managing Director, NHT, Martin Miller and Director,
M&M Jamaica Limited, Richard Mullings, today (November 24) broke ground for the Royal Estates Housing Development project.
The development will consist of 130 duplexes and 14 mixed-use units for residential and commercial use.
The Royal Estates Housing Development is being built on 8.3 acres of land and is slated for completion in 2026. The selling price will be finalised on completion of the development. The units will include 32 studios, 38 one-bedroom, 60 two-bedroom (two storey) and 14 mixed-use (three storey). The land earmarked for the development borders west on the Tivoli Gully, north by Tivoli Gardens, south and east by the Jamaica Railway Corporation property.
Addressing the ceremony, the Prime Minister said the development is a testimony to the Government’s unwavering commitment to building not just houses but communities.
“This development represents hope and opportunity and embodies the ideals of the community-renewal programme, an initiative deeply rooted in the tenets of Vision 2030 and is an outgrowth of the NHT’s inner-city housing project,” he added.
He said since inception, the NHT has contributed more than 10,000 housing solutions in Kingston and St. Andrew through the Joint Venture Interim Finance Project, the Inner-City Housing Project and the NHT Scheme Programmes. He informed that the Trust’s current housing plan for Kingston and St. Andrew includes 1,386 housing units to be constructed over the next two years.
These include 230 units (Foreshore Estate), which is under construction and should be completed in 2024; 210 units under the Maxfield Park Development Project, for completion in 2025; 131 units at White Wing, for completion in 2025; 248 units at Howard Apartments, for completion in 2025; 18 units at the completed Bellrock Project; 36 units at St. Paul’s Lane; 70 units at the Surbiton Project, for completion in 2026; 62 units at Bay Farm Road, to be completed in 2026; Phase Two of the Ruthven Towers, which will consist of 235 units for completion in 2026; and 14 units in Vineyard Town, for completion in 2025.
Mr. Holness said the Government remains committed to providing housing solutions that will meet the needs of Jamaicans and informed that the focus is not only on Kingston and St. Andrew.
He pointed out that the Trust has committed to building 43,000 housing solutions islandwide. “Every day we are working towards that commitment,” he added.
The Prime Minister further informed that the Bernard Lodge Development in St. Catherine has commenced.
“Several of the developers are building out now and I am going to tour that area very soon to see the progress that is being made. In that development alone we will have over 10,000 housing solutions,” he said.
He explained that the buildout of a proper transportation system and road networks will complement the buildout of more units outside of Kingston.
“What we have done in terms of improving the road network heading east into St. Thomas is a signal that housing developments should follow that new corridor, so there are options other than seeking to build in Kingston, that you can live on the outskirts of Kingston and travel into Kingston at a low cost and conveniently; that’s what we are building out,” Mr. Holness said.
He noted that development of the Royal Estates project has been in the pipeline from as far back as 2007 and
lamented about the pace of development and the associated bureaucratic processes to execute the project.
“When I toured in 2019, I made a commitment that it would be done but regardless of how firm and strong my commitments were, when it becomes the domain of execution, when it becomes the domain of public bureaucracy, sometimes there is a disconnect between the urgency of getting the projects done and the imperative of complying with the rules,” the Prime Minister said.
“The two things have to be done; you can’t sacrifice either; you have to comply with the rules and you want to do it as quickly as possible, so that the people who are living in the substandard condition can get the benefit quickly. Sometimes as bureaucrats and administrators, we do our job without seeing the beneficiary on the other side of our effort,” he said.
The Prime Minister urged that contractor, M&M Jamaica Limited, to complete the project within or before the timeline and within the budget. “Move as fast as you can… don’t delay what you can accomplish today,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Mr. McKenzie said the proposed development is a “dream we all welcome”.
Community member, Shikara Dockery said the community is grateful for the development. “To finally see the project happening, it feels good,” she told JIS News.
For his part, Mr. Freeman said the project will be developed with greenspaces and recreational areas and will improve the quality of life for residents and their families.
Contact: Chris Patterson
Release: JIS
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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