DRAX HALL in St Ann has seen major infrastructural developments in the past couple of years and is well on its way to be identified as the parish’s major commercial hub.

The transformation and growth, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is due to efforts being made by his Administration to boost the country’s economic sector.

Holness was speaking at the official opening ceremony of Courts Jamaica’s Drax Hall location last Thursday. Courts, owned by the Unicomer Group, is the Caribbean’s largest furniture, appliance and electrical retailer.

“This Administration is aspirational, and we are not ashamed to say we want to lift people out of poverty to achieve their aspirations. We want people to ‘set up inna life’, but we have to understand that those aspirations cannot be fulfilled without a solid economy,” he said

The prime minister noted that there have been significant changes in the rate of unemployment — and foreign direct investors such as the Unicomer Group have contributed significantly.

“Ten years ago we had 10 per cent unemployment but the last survey puts us at 4.2 per cent, so Jamaica is at what is called full employment. Several billion dollars of investments have been made in this area — and just look at how many jobs are here now!” he said

Lauding Unciomer’s interest in Jamaica as an exemplary move, the prime minister added that other foreign direct investors will see if fit to also pump their money into Jamaica’s economy.

“There are 100 other locations that Unicomer could go but they chose Jamaica, and with investments like these we are pulling in more people to the economy.

“Unicomer Group is a major contributor to the FDI [foreign direct investment] of Jamaica, and its decision to expand by establishing this beautiful new store in Drax Hall is a signal to the vast opportunities of investors, entrepreneurs, and the people of this region,” said Holness.

Courts’s Drax Hall location is the first branch to be equipped with an escalator — a feature which most shoppers and employees are excited about.

Caribbean managing director, Unicomer Group, Felix Siman said during his presentation at the opening ceremony that his establishment is committed to enhancing the Jamaican economy through investments.

“We don’t make sales or transactions; we make relationships with our clients, and the relationships that we have created over the last 65 years have enabled us to grow with our customers and expand on our product and services. It is really the vibrant Jamaican community that has helped us to propel this market, and we are committed to expand[ing] our operations here and support[ing] the Jamaican economy,” said Siman.

In the meantime, Holness said the rapid development in Drax Hall speaks to the versatility of the parish and the potential of the country.

“St Ann is know for tourism and is now showing another dimension of the richness of the parish, now developing a commercial hub. So then, the point must be made that the Jamaican economy can be much more than tourism,” he said.

Caribbean managing director, Unicomer Group, Felix Siman addressing the store’s official opening.

Inside view of the newly opened Courts Drax Hall location

Customers enter the Courts Drax Hall store. (Photo: Akera Davis)