Artistically decorated NMIA roundabout signs a sight to behold
Published:Monday | June 9, 2025 | 12:08 AMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
For years, visitors and locals were greeted on their travels to and from the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) by the colourful tail of an Air Jamaica airplane mounted in the centre of the roundabout. It was iconic, a popular background for photographs, long before the term ‘selfie’ was coined.
In early 2023, Fernando Vistrain Lorence, CEO of PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), operators of the NMIA, outlined that in addition to the runway extension, other projects would also be executed. A December 29, 2023 Gleaner article, headlined ‘Plane tail removed from NMIA roundabout’, states, “Its removal is part of the renovation and expansion of the airport and will be replaced by a sign welcoming travellers to Kingston and to the airport”.
The article also states that Audley Diedrick, president and CEO of the Airports Authority of Jamaica, told The Gleaner that the action was taken by PACKAL.
“The operators of the airport have removed the plane tail to facilitate a redesign and construction of the facilities at the roundabout,” he was reported to have said.
He added that the plane tail would not be a feature of the new design and that it was in storage at the NMIA. People were outraged when they found out the tail had been ‘flown’ away. The media were flooded with complaints, and appeals are still being made for its return.
PLANE TAIL RESTORED
“It had suffered from rusting due to its proximity to the sea and from weathering. Eventually, the tail will be removed to a location where generations of Jamaicans can view it,” Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange is quoted as saying. “I am happy to report that the restored tail will be wrapped with the original Air Jamaica Lovebird logo and will be placed in a location accessible for all to see, free of charge.”
Since then, the roundabout’s proposed new design was executed and the plane tail is definitely not among its features, despite persistent calls to incorporate it. The new design includes two signs, spelling KINGSTON and NMIA, made of six-foot-tall, three-dimensional letters, and mounted on a concrete base. They were painted white. Kingston Creative, which has been creating eye-catching murals all over Kingston and St Andrew, got the contract to beautify the letters.
In late February 2025, Kingston Creative announced an open call for the Kingston Airport Roundabout Art Monument Project aimed at transforming the roundabout into a cultural landmark. It invited Jamaican artists, who are citizens and residents currently living in Jamaica, to create an iconic mural that would welcome visitors to Kingston and leave a lasting impression on departing travellers.
“We’re very excited about this art project as it represents more than beautification. It’s about creating a powerful first and last impression of Kingston that captures our city’s vibrant spirit. By commissioning this work from a local artist, we’re further supporting Jamaica’s creative industry, while ensuring that our gateway truly reflects authentic Jamaican culture and creativity,” Sitara English-Byfield, chief executive officer of PACKAL, was quoted as saying in The Gleaner on February 26.
FINAL STAGE OF RENOVATION
“This is the final stage of our roundabout renovation project, and we wanted to work with an executing partner that has the relationships with the creative community and, importantly, has the expertise and experience with projects of this nature,” she continued.
In the said Gleaner article, Andrea Dempster Chung, co-founder and executive director of Kingston Creative, is quoted as saying, “Commissioning a Jamaican artist to create a mural at such an iconic landmark like the Kingston airport roundabout fills us with pride. As the gateway to our island, this project will enhance nation branding by showcasing Jamaica’s rich artistic talent to the world. We eagerly invite all visual artists to participate and are excited to see the brilliance of their creativity.”
The selected artist/team was required to complete the work within a 14-day period. He/she was tasked with creating a design that showcases Kingston’s distinctive character, from its cultural influence and history of being the birthplace of reggae and dancehall music to its historic architecture and dynamic city life. The mural is to “capture the essence of Kingston’s cultural landscape while creating an engaging visual experience for the thousands who travel along the Palisadoes corridor daily”.
Many responses were made to the call and, after the selection process, the lead artist, Matthew McCarthy, got the job. The Gleaner chanced upon him just days before the job was completed during the last weekend in May. He was supported by Suzanna Missenberger, Joshua Solas, Kokab ZD and Taj Francis. Production support came from Travis ‘Habibi’ Bailey and Dean Sutherland.
McCarthy is not legally authorised to comment on his work at this point, but research has revealed that the former Gleaner YouthLink writer is a first-class honours graduate of Edna Manley College, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual communication. In 2019, the much-recognised artist received The Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence for his contributions to nation-building and creative achievements.
His artist’s biography states, “Matthew McCarthy is a Jamaica-based multimedia and installation artist. His work is influenced by the aesthetics of Jamaican music culture, particularly vintage reggae and dancehall. His appreciation of the visual forms emerging from that sphere has provided a touchpoint for expressing his messages in a style that feels familiar to his island home of Jamaica.
“His career as a street artist has allowed him to form long-lasting connections with various community spaces, with the aim of using public murals as a tool for community uplifting and storytelling … . In recent years, his practice has evolved to include a range of media that engage and reference the rich musical history of Jamaica. He has exhibited globally and aims to continue the rich legacy of the powerful Jamaican storytellers and artists that came before him.”