KINGSTON, Jamaica –Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange says her ministry is engaging with stakeholders regarding the development of Fort Rocky as part of the Port Royal Entertainment Zone.

Grange said that Permanent Secretary Dean-Roy Bernard has been tasked to meet with the relevant entities and discuss their concerns. Two meetings have already been held, and a third is scheduled to take place shortly.

“Whatever concerns there are now, those concerns are being addressed,” Grange said.

“I want to indicate that there is no intention to bypass any of the relevant agencies that should be involved in these developments and I will ensure that all our agencies are compliant,” she added.

The statement follows concern from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation that unauthorised work was ongoing in the Fort Rocky area.

READ: KSAMC concerned over ‘unauthorised’ Govt project at Fort Rock

Grange, who was addressing the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee in the House of Representatives on Friday, said during the “lengthy process” to develop the entertainment venue, a lot of time was spent to engage with agencies and to conduct an ecological assessment of the site, as well as a survey of flora and fauna and a study of sound and light.

“As I told the House last year, these were critical in determining the types of entertainment activities that should take place at Fort Rocky, considering potential effects on residents, on aviation and ecological resources in the area,” the minister pointed out.

She said it was determined, based on the environmental assessment, that Fort Rocky is “suitable for the purpose intended.”

She informed that the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) is now “finalising an important phase” of the work at the site.

Fort Rocky is set to host a major event, Good Times, on March 15.

“We intend to use that event to announce and signal to the country that Fort Rocky is ready and available to host entertainment events in a way that will not disturb, as we would say, our neighbour,” Grange said.

Allocation has been made in the 2025/26 budget for the continued development of the facility, and also Jamworld in Portmore, St Catherine, which is slated to become the country’s first 24-hour entertainment zone.

Works at Jamworld will include fencing, lighting and the erection of a security post.

These improvements, the minister said, will enable an increase the number of events at the venue, and to regulate access for activities such as teaching people how to drive.

– JIS