MEMBER of Parliament for St Andrew North Central Delano Seiveright has welcomed the roll-out of a new digital payments initiative at the Manor Park/Constant Spring bus park.

Seiveright, who is also state minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, described the development as a critical step in modernising small business activity and improving the overall commercial environment in the area.

The initiative, led by Mastercard in partnership with key stakeholders, is aimed at expanding digital inclusion — particularly in the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) and informal sectors, by making it easier for vendors to accept electronic payments.

The roll-out builds on a successful pilot previously executed in craft markets in Montego Bay, St James, and is now being extended across additional markets and tourism-linked zones islandwide.

Speaking during a visit to the location on Tuesday, Seiveright said the initiative aligns squarely with ongoing efforts to upgrade the Manor Park transport and commercial space and improve the experience for both vendors and customers.

“This is exactly the direction we need to go, supporting our small operators with practical tools to grow their businesses, improve efficiency, and access a wider customer base, including visitors who are increasingly using cards and digital payments,” he said.

He noted that Manor Park serves as a key gateway between Kingston and the north and north-western sections of the island, with consistent traffic from both locals and visitors, many of whom prefer cashless transactions.

As part of the roll-out, National Commercial Bank (NCB) facilitated the provision of activated mobile devices to selected vendors, enabling them to accept digital payments immediately.

Telecommunications support is being provided by Digicel, with on-site assistance to ensure smooth activation and on-boarding.

Seiveright participated in a demonstration transaction with one of the vendors, highlighting the ease and speed of the system.

The digital payments push comes against the backdrop of ongoing physical upgrades to the Manor Park bus park and vending area under a structured public–private partnership arrangement.

According to Seiveright, substantial work has already been completed for the upgrade, with additional works now underway.

He disclosed that major landscaping works are scheduled to begin this month. That work is to be done by Pan Jamaica Group Limited, a major property owner in the area and one of Jamaica’s largest corporate entities.

The broader redevelopment initiative is being led by Seiveright, private sector partner Richard Lake and the Lake Group, with strong support from the Lisa Hanna Foundation. Additional backing has been provided by PanJam, Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), and corporate partners including Wisynco Group Limited.

The state minister said the combined effort, physical upgrades alongside digital enablement, represents a more holistic approach to community and commercial development.

“We’re not just fixing the space physically. We’re also equipping the people who operate within it to compete in a more modern economy,” said Seiveright as he encouraged vendors to fully utilise the platform and position themselves as early adopters of digital commerce in the Kingston market space.

“This is an opportunity to improve how business is done — more efficient, more secure, and more attractive to a wider range of customers,” Seiveright added.

From left: Donna Walters, Mastercard’s director for account management; Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Central Delano Seiveright; Dalton Fowles, country manager, Mastercard; Gregory Peart, product and portfolio manager, acquiring, payments & digital channels division, National Commercial Bank; speaking with vendors at the Manor Park bus stop and vending zone on Tuesday.