NEWLY minted Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Eastern, Dr Alfred Dawes says he will not be moving forward with former MP Robert Miller’s plan to turn Port Henderson Road into the next Las Vegas.

Instead, he intends to further develop and expand fishing villages along the infamous “Back Road”, with wider plans to increase and upgrade spaces for recreational activities within the constituency.

The unofficial red-light district of the Sunshine City, during his tenure Miller had announced plans to turn the popular Back Road strip into Jamaica’s very own Las Vegas — revamping the area into a tourist destination and the largest hip strip in the island.

He listed brick streets, an art walk, bright lights, a hall of fame, entertainment, restaurants, and a ferry to transport people in a bid to create a booming nightlife, as well as programmes to integrate into other professions the ladies of the night who operate along the strip. However, having lost the seat to Dawes when Jamaicans went to the polls on September 3 for the 2025 General Election, his opponent-turned MP has other plans for the popular strip.

“I am more focused on having the fishing village with adequate infrastructure in place, roads, and water to enhance the experience of persons who are looking to purchase seafood, as well as to promote the safety and well-being of the vendors and the buyers,” said Dawes when questioned by the Jamaica Observer last week.

He explained that, “already, work is in place and work is about to start with the rehabilitation of the road leading to the Forum Fishing Village. And, coupled with that is a plan to provide the vendors with tanks and subsidised trucking so that they will have water, rather than buying water or having water in drums.

“There are also issues with respect to the actual communities on that stretch, which are informal. I intend to engage the National Housing Trust [NHT] to see what funds can be made available for the upliftment of those communities — whether it is paving of roads, the removal of zinc fence — and getting adequate water and sewage for infrastructure in place,” said the first-time MP.

An internationally renowned major resort city in the United States, Las Vegas is known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife.

When the Sunday Observer visited the area a year ago to get reactions to Miller’s proposal, some business owners and operators on Port Henderson Road backed his plan, pointing out that with proper investment, the stretch can position the Sunshine City location as Jamaica’s next tourism hip strip.

However, Dawes is confident his constituents would prefer what he is proposing over a Las Vegas-type attraction, given the large Christian community that exists within the space.

“The business opportunities that must come out of a Port Henderson Road development must be through the blue economy, whether it’s cross-harbour tourist support to Port Royal and fish empowerment of the official fisherfolk, as well as restaurants along that side to make it more of a dining experience. I would prefer that type of hip strip,” Dawes stressed.

Pointing out that Portmore has long been designated a dormitory community where people go home to sleep and venture elsewhere for work, leisure, pleasure, and education, Dawes said this is slowly shifting.

“We have seen a transition over the last few decades where Portmore is actually now a city on its own, with its own shopping malls. The BPO [business process outsourcing] sector has provided significant employment, and there are other industries that have contributed to significantly increasing the number of jobs available.

“Of note, the construction industry is booming in Portmore now, coupled with the fact that persons can work and stay in Portmore, so now you have to look at the other aspects of their lives. You have to de-stress — life cannot just be about work and home — and this is why a major part of my manifesto is focused on making Portmore a wellness city,” said Dawes.

As he serves his first term he told the Sunday Observer that he intends to work with constituents to provide recreational spaces — such as parks for relaxation and beaches on Port Henderson Road — in addition to sports programmes within communities.

“When we’re looking at city planning we have to look at wholesome development, not just employment and housing. We have to look at how people are going to de-stress, or they’re going to enjoy life, or they’re going to connect with each other in the communities — and that’s what is lacking in many districts in Portmore,” said Dawes.

An informal fishing village at a section of Port Henderson Road in St Catherine. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)