KINGSTON, Jamaica — The historic Rockfort Mineral Bath in Kingston has officially reopened following extensive renovations under a public-private partnership between the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and Carib Cement.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, declared “We have delivered” as she reopened the facility on Thursday.

She noted that the revitalisation of the landmark was one of her ministry’s priority projects for the year.

The reopening comes after a 25-year lease agreement signed in 2024, granting Carib Cement responsibility for upgrading, managing and operating the facility. The company has committed to investing $57 million over the next five years, with $16 million already spent on phase one upgrades.

“We invested more or less triple what we had calculated at the beginning, because in the middle of this [work] Hurricane Beryl, storm Rafael, and the heavy rainy season that we had last year [caused a lot of damage],” said Carib Cement Managing Director, Jorge Martinez.

Minister Grange said the reopening would restore the Rockfort Mineral Bath’s place as a cultural and tourism gem, renowned for its therapeutic properties.

“I see families coming again to this location as they did so many years ago before the facility was closed. I can hear again the pitter patter of little feet of our children running around with their parents while taking advantage of the mineral bath, known for its therapeutic value. I can feel the spirit of communities as they come from near and far to experience the magical feeling of a mineral bath,” she said.

She added that the facility will now form part of Kingston’s expanding culture, heritage, entertainment and tourism circuit designed to attract more visitors to the capital.

Admission rates have been set at $500 for children ages four to 12 and seniors 55 and over, while adults will pay $700.