KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has outlined the details of the master plan that the Government anticipates will transform and unlock Port Antonio’s potential.

The plan, according to Holness will deliver four transformational elements.

These are a new cruise terminal in the East Harbour, paired with high-end hotels and villas on the Folly Lands, which he said “will establish Port Antonio as a premium cruise destination unlike any other in the region”.  The site will be intimate, authentic, and framed by some of the most spectacular scenery in the Caribbean Holness said Thursday during his contribution to the Budget Debate.

The cricket grounds will be enhanced into a modern multi-purpose sports and entertainment amphitheatre, activating what the prime minister described as an underutilised asset and bringing major events to Portland for the first time.

There will also be a new pedestrian promenade along the shoreline that will connect the East and West Harbours, transforming the waterfront into a continuous, walkable public space for residents and visitors alike.

And a new public park will be developed to give the people of Portland “a world-class recreational amenity on their own doorstep”.

The prime minister told the House that the long announced US$81 million Port Antonio bypass project is the essential precondition for everything else the master plan seeks to achieve. He explained that the 18-kilometre corridor will be delivered in two phases, the first spanning Norwich to Turtle Crawl Harbour — comprising seven kilometres of four-lane roadway, new bridges, and upgraded drainage, built inland and elevated to protect against storm surges and coastal erosion.

“By diverting through-traffic away from the historic town centre, the bypass will give Port Antonio the space it needs to become the premium destination the Master Plan envisions. Beyond relieving congestion, the bypass will open new corridors for housing, commerce, and economic activity. Works have already commenced,” the prime minister said.

“Complementing all of this is the Boundbrook Urban Centre which is approximately 40 per cent complete.

“Like the Morant Bay Urban Centre, Boundbrook will be an integrated commercial hub combining public and private services seamlessly in one location,” Holness added.