Antony ‘Tony’ Hart, the man credited with developing Montego Bay into the second city it is today, will be inducted into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Hall of Fame next month.

The PSOJ announced that it will induct the decorated businessman at ta gala event scheduled for Thursday, October 31, 2013 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Hart is responsible for a number of major developments in Montego Bay, with perhaps the most well-known being the Montego Bay Freeport, which he conceived, promoted and saw through to completion. The massive project began in 1967 and included dredging of the sea in some areas. It ultimately led to the creation of 350 acres of land and four berths for ships, and is today home to a booming industrial estate, the free zone, upscale residential complexes, numerous resort offerings, a beach club, the Montego Bay Yacht Club and the parish’s largest port.

After the completion of the Freeport, Hart, who is now retired, acted as Chairman of the Hart Group of Companies, which at one time included an apparel operation with over 3,000 employees, a savings and loans company, an Avis Car Rental licensee, a stevedoring company, a hardware business, port management, a safety supply company, and five farms. One of these farms, Good Hope, is now one of the premier visitor attractions in Trelawny.

PSOJ President Chris Zacca described Hart as “a true visionary and without a doubt fits all the criteria for selection into our Hall of Fame”.

Hart joins a list of 20 previous inductees, including last year’s recipient, Lorna Myers, Chairman of Restaurants of Jamaica Ltd, and the first female to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.