IN a moment that sparked applause, Matthew Lyn, group CEO of Caribbean Broilers, used the platform at the unveiling of the Caribbean’s first air-chill poultry processing plant — regarded as the single-largest agricultural investment in Jamaica — to spotlight the long-standing state of the road network in Hill Run, St Catherine.

Directing his appeal to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Lyn described the deteriorating infrastructure as more than an inconvenience — it’s a chokehold on growth in a blossoming agricultural hub.

“Prime Minister, I apologise for having to put you on the spot here, Sir, but I think you’re the only one that can help me with this one,” Lyn said passionately. “Let’s change the minds of future generations, attract serious investment capital, and transform the relationship between industry, the environment, and agriculture. Prime Minister, I’m begging for a road.”

The Hill Run road network, which serves a growing agricultural hub, has long been plagued by neglect, but the issue is not unique to the area. Across Jamaica, citizens and business leaders alike have pressed the Government to address the country’s deteriorating roads, many of which were further damaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl last year July.

Following the storm, Prime Minister Holness declared Jamaica’s road conditions a national emergency, allocating $2 billion for immediate repairs. While repairs have commenced in parts of the island, progress has been uneven, with some areas seeing improvements at a snail’s pace.

Lyn’s plea resonated with the audience, underscoring the critical link between infrastructure and productivity.

“We want to showcase more than just this air-chilled plant — the Nest, the eco-industrial park, the 500 acres of harvest hub, the research facility at Hill Run Farms,” Lyn said.

Coming in at a price tag of $15 billion, the Nest is the single largest agricultural investment in Jamaica and the first of its kind in the Caribbean. Spanning more than 1,000 acres in Hill Run, it marks a significant milestone toward Jamaica’s self-sufficiency, food security, and Caricom’s goal of reducing extra-regional imports by 25 per cent by 2025.

“The air-chill plant and the concept of the Nest are examples of circularity in action — not simply about producing more chicken,” Lyn said. “This long-term investment shows our absolute commitment to Jamaica’s food security, the people who work with us, the customers we have the honour of serving, and the environment in which we live. We’re doing things differently, and we’re being very open, transparent, and deliberate about inspiring the next generation to do things better.”

Responding directly to Lyn’s plea, Holness acknowledged the significance of the issue and assured the audience of his Government’s commitment to addressing it.

“The road deserves to be fixed,” he said. “This is not just about local convenience. The road network here is vital to the growth of Jamaica’s agricultural sector, and it will be fixed before the year is out.”

Holness also elaborated on the broader implications of infrastructure investments, linking them to reduced costs for businesses and consumers. “Every delay caused by poor roads translates into higher costs for businesses, which are then passed on to consumers,” he explained. “When we talk about lowering the cost of living and increasing productivity, fixing roads is where it begins.”

Lyn’s comments also brought attention to the bureaucratic challenges that often hinder large-scale investments in Jamaica. He pointed to the two-year delay in planning, permitting, and approvals for the air-chilled plant as a prime example of the inefficiencies businesses face.

“It took us two years of planning, permitting, and approvals just to get to this point,” Lyn said. “If we’re serious about attracting investment, we must make the process more efficient.”

Holness was candid in addressing the issue, acknowledging that bureaucracy remains a significant barrier to development.

“There’s a culture in Jamaica that associates delays with quality,” he said. “A slow bureaucratic system adds unnecessary costs to businesses and slows our progress as a nation.”