Phillips slams ribbon-cutting at Morant Bay UC as ‘premature’
Published:Tuesday | May 27, 2025 | 12:11 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
People’s National Party (PNP) Vice-President Mikael Phillips has criticised Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas, calling it a “desperate and misleading” move aimed at creating a false sense of progress, as the project is still under construction.
Phillips, who is the member of parliament for Manchester North Western, said the $6-billion project is still some six months away from completion.
He further alleged that efforts were made to stage the event for public perception.
“He (Holness) went to St Thomas last week and cut the ribbon for the new town centre. He called KFC and begged them to put up a sign just for the day. He called the mayor [of Morant Bay] and told him to place a St Thomas Municipal Corporation sign on the building for the day,” said Phillips, noting that the project is not yet ready to serve its intended purpose.
“It’s not connected to any sewage, and the buildings aren’t even ready for tenants to move in,” said Phillips.
The opposition parliamentarian is also calling for the Auditor General’s Department to investigate the project’s expenditure, raising concerns about financial transparency.
According to Phillips, a flurry of ribbon-cutting exercises in recent weeks by the Government is an indication that it is focused on optics rather than substantive project completion.
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being touted by the Government as a transformative development for eastern Jamaica. Upon completion, it will house branches of government agencies such as the HEART/NSTA Trust, the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, the National Housing Trust, the National Water Commission, the Jamaica Information Service, and the Jamaica Postal Corporation.
In addition, various private-sector entities will be located within the centre’s commercial district. Among those already confirmed are the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, Stationery World, Noraldu Limited, Ribbiz Lounge, Taurus Gardens, Devon House, Express Fitness, SSMC Express, and Knutsford Express.
The facility was formally unveiled on May 17, with symbolic keys presented to representatives from government bodies and private-sector tenants, including the parish’s first KFC franchise.
The urban centre has been in development since ground was broken approximately six years ago on the 25-acre property once occupied by the former Goodyear factory. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the project is being executed by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, in collaboration with contractors China Harbour Engineering Company.