Jamaica is a global cultural powerhouse. Our music, film, and arts have shaped industries worldwide; from reggae’s deep influence on hip hop to our storytelling tradition’s impact on cinema. Yet, despite our undeniable creative dominance, we continue to squander billions in potential earnings due to chronic underinvestment in creative infrastructure.

Our artists, film-makers, and musicians dominate international markets, yet they are often forced to create and collaborate abroad because Jamaica lacks the world-class facilities necessary to support high-end production. Truly, this is not just a creative sector issue; it is a national economic crisis.

With bold policies, strategic investment, and a commitment to building creative infrastructure, Jamaica could unlock an industry capable of generating thousands of jobs, attracting billions in foreign investment, and positioning itself as the undisputed creative capital of the Caribbean.

But half-measures will no longer suffice. The Government must act with urgency to establish a state-of-the-art creative production hub, a cutting-edge facility with high-tech recording studios, world-class film sets, post-production suites, and specialised training centres. This is not just an investment in the arts, it is an economic necessity.

It would attract global media giants, create opportunities for local creatives, and establish Jamaica as a premier location for international productions, while generating significant foreign exchange earnings.

Yet, for too long, successive administrations across both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) have had a broken creative industry budget. Now, the Government continues to allocate funding to the sector, but in ways that fail to support long-term industry growth. The numbers tell a sobering story.

For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Government allocated $3.2 billion (US$20.4 million) for arts and cultural services, yet 57 per cent (US$11.6 million) of that budget is spent on salaries and travel expenses, while only 2.5 per cent (US$510,000) goes towards fixed assets and capital goods — the very infrastructure needed to make Jamaica competitive on the world stage.

This financial mismanagement is even more alarming considering that the Economic Impact Study for Jamaica’s Film, Animation, and Music Industries (2022) found that the creative sector contributed 5.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for 3 per cent of employment. Although, there is no other supporting data to measure the value of Jamaica’s creative industry to our economy, these figures prove that the creative industry is not just a cultural asset; it is an economic powerhouse.

Yet, despite its clear potential, the sector remains centrally underfunded, mismanaged, and ignored, with no significant investment in infrastructure to support its expansion.

To put this into perspective, a modern movie sound stage and studio costs approximately US$50 million to build. While competing nations, such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, are heavily investing in film and music production infrastructure, attracting major international productions and reaping billions in economic benefits, Jamaica remains stuck in a cycle of rudderless spending that delivers no tangible results. If we fail to act now, we will continue to miss out on the billion-dollar creative boom happening globally.

To me, the solution is clear and actionable: Jamaica must build a world-class creative production hub that attracts film-makers, musicians, and content creators from Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood, and beyond. We already have the perfect backdrop — breathtaking landscapes, a globally recognised cultural brand, and some of the most talented creatives in the world. But without modern production infrastructure we will continue to lose opportunities to our competitors.

A state-of-the-art creative hub must include high-tech film production studios with world-class sound stages and outdoor sets, state-of-the-art recording studios capable of hosting international artistes, top-tier post-production facilities equipped for film editing, computer-generated imagery, animation, as well as training and mentorship programmes for local film-makers, cinematographers, and sound engineers.

Beyond that, this facility could also fuel tourism-driven revenue streams, such as interactive studio tours and live production experiences, allowing visitors to see Jamaica’s creative industry in action. This transformational investment would not only attract major international productions, but also empower Jamaican creatives to produce world-class content at home, eliminating the need to migrate abroad in search of opportunity.

A project of this scale requires bold, visionary leadership, and a smart financial model. The best approach is a public-private partnership (PPP) that combines government investment, private sector funding, and public stock market participation. At a cost of US$60 million, the Government could invest 40 per cent of the capital (US$24 million), providing land, infrastructure, and tax incentives. Another 40 per cent (US$24 million) could come from private international investors, including major studios like Netflix, Warner Bros, Universal Music, and Disney Studios, who would benefit from long-term production deals. The remaining 20 per cent (US$12 million) could be raised via the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), allowing local and international investors to buy into the project’s success. With this model, Jamaica retains ownership of the facility while leveraging global expertise, capital, and industry partnerships.

For example, the TransJamaican Highway model in which the Government invested proved to be a highly profitable infrastructure venture. In 2024 alone it generated a net profit of US$31.32 million, marking a 30.7 per cent increase from US$23.96 million in 2023. This demonstrates the financial viability of strategic infrastructure investments and underscores how well-planned projects can yield substantial economic returns while enhancing national development.

Furthermore, the Economic Impact Study for Jamaica’s Film, Animation, and Music Industries (2022) found that Jamaica’s creative sector already generates billions for the economy, even without proper infrastructure. A state-of-the-art creative hub could double or triple this contribution within a decade. Thousands of direct jobs would be created in film production, cinematography, sound engineering, and set design, while another several thousand indirect jobs would emerge in tourism, hospitality, transportation, and catering.

The global entertainment industry is a US$2.8-trillion market, and countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East are aggressively investing in production facilities and tax-free creative hubs to attract Hollywood and international productions. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and South Africa are already securing billions in foreign investment through strategic infrastructure development and tax incentives, while Jamaica falls further behind.

The world is actively searching for fresh, cost-effective, and visually striking filming locations. With a world-class creative hub, competitive tax incentives, and a well-trained local workforce, Jamaica could become one of the most sought-after production destinations globally.

Jamaica’s creative economy is one of its greatest untapped resources, but as long as our creative industry budget remains broken, the country will never realise its full potential. This is not just about building a recording studio or film set, this is about Jamaica’s future as a global creative leader. With Government’s backing, private sector engagement, and stock market investment, Jamaica can revolutionise its creative industry, generate thousands of jobs, attract significant foreign investment, and secure long-term economic stability.

The world is ready for a Caribbean Hollywood; Jamaica has everything it takes to lead the charge. The only question is: Will we act now, or will we let this billion-dollar opportunity continue to slip away?

We’ve had enough proposals, enough feasibility studies, and enough talk. The time for action is now. No more delays, no more excuses. Fix the broken creative industry budget, invest in world-class infrastructure, and unleash the full power of Jamaica’s creative economy. The future won’t wait, and neither should we. It’s time to build.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.