MONTEGO BAY, St James — Government and performing arts centres are to be constructed on a 14-acre plot of land on Bevan Avenue in Montego Bay, St James, which now houses commercial operations for the State-run National Water Commission.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the $1.2-billion Closed Harbour Beach Park Development here last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness indicated that the parcel of land for the development has already been identified for the project.

“Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett would have toured a piece of land within the city proper. The idea there is to create a government centre/circle. Every city has to have public administration which is accessible to all its citizens. It also must reflect the dreams and aspirations and your own pride in your own Government…your pride in your country and in your own state,” Holness stated.

“It must also reflect the efficiency of the state, and therefore, we will be creating within the city of Montego Bay your own government centre where all the services of the government will be administered and easily available.”

The prime minister did not say when construction for the project will begin, but the Jamaica Observer West understands that the designs for the project are being worked on.

Speaking with the Observer West following the ceremony, Bartlett revealed that the Office of the Prime Minister will have a branch at the new government centre.

“So the government centre is going to be built. There are 14 acres that we have identified between Bevan Avenue and Howard Cooke (Boulevard). It’s the location where the National Water Commission now sits. So we are going to do a whole remake of that and create the Government centre where all the government offices will be located, including the Office of the Prime Minister here in western Jamaica,” Bartlett said.

The tourism minister also shed light on the performing arts centre which will also occupy a section of the property.

He described it as the first modern performing arts facility “with all the necessary appointments that will enable performances at the highest level, both in terms of orchestral and chamber music as well as theatrical performances”.

“It will be a scaled facility, which will allow for different audiences, but it will focus heavily on the fine arts and the performing arts at the highest level,” he added.

Plans are also afoot for the construction of another structure to accommodate a school for the performing arts next door to the performing arts centre, the tourism minister told the Observer West.

“We are excited about the prospects also of providing training next to the facility so that there will be in Montego Bay a performing arts training school as well. The two together will give Montego Bay both the infrastructure for development of the talent, as well as the avenue for showcasing the products of the creativity to people,” the tourism minister said.

Prime Minister Holness also spoke to the prospects of both performing arts facilities.

“After the visitors have completed their meetings, or after having spent a day at the beach, they might then want to see the exposition of the Jamaican culture in the performing arts. There you will bring together not just your dance, but also your drama, your music and your singing. There our people will be well-trained and where our culture will be well represented in the tourism product,” the prime minister remarked.

Closed Harbour Beach Park, called ‘Dump up Beach’, is expected to transform the development of downtown Montego Bay.

The project forms part of the Urban Development Corporation’s Montego Bay Redevelopment Programme which will see the conversion of the 16-acre property into a world-class recreational space with amenities that will allow for it to operate as a free access licensed public beach.

The initiative is anticipated for completion within 18 months with main funding provided by the Tourism Enhancement Fund.