MONTEGO BAY, St James — The S Hotel, located on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, continues to make an impression with its visual artwork, this time with the construction of a sculpture that pays tribute to the resilience of the Jamaican people following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa last year.

The new statue will serve as a landmark and an expression of gratitude to the Jamaican people and everyone who contributed to the country’s ongoing recovery from the Category 5 storm.

“After we put up the 46-feetbDoctor Bird on the side of the S hotel in Montego Bay in August 2025 we received such positive feedback that we decided to put a statue in Kingston,” S Hotel Chief Executive Officer Christopher Issa told the Jamaica Observer.

“But after Hurricane Melissa we decided to do another one in Montego Bay on the Hip Strip as an inspiration, and in recognition of the resilience of the Jamaican people, and as a thank you to all those who help with the recovery locally and overseas,” he continued.

The 62-foot sculpture is now in its final phase of construction and sits prominently in the commercial area of the S Hotel property, allowing locals and visitors to interact with and view it.

Issa declined to comment on the cost but said more than 35 people were involved at different stages of the construction over a period of more than six months.

A crew works to complete the Together We Rise statue at S Hotel on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip.

The sculpture is expected to become a new point of attraction on the famed Hip Strip, although the hotel mogul was quick to point out that it is separate from plans already in place to upgrade the area.

“The statue was done independently of any plans for the Hip Strip,” he said, explaining that it was meant to be an added attraction.

A statue of sprint king, Olympian Usain Bolt was shifted slightly to the side to accommodate the new structure.

“When completed we hope that the statue will be visited by locals and tourists [who] will appreciate not only the message behind it but the scope and level of artistic talent that our country has,” he said.

The sculpture is the work of local visual artist Scheed Cole, the man behind the massive
Doctor Bird statue that spans one side of the S Hotel building. He explained the inspiration behind the project after being commissioned to take on the task.

Visual artist Scheed Cole looks on as team members work to complete his latest statue at S Hotel in Montego Bay.

“I felt very heavy in my heart to do something to help the Melissa recovery, and something to really give hope back to a nation and to rebuild a country, and a thought came of Jamaica rising, or together we rise,” Cole told the Observer.

The sculpture, described as dynamic, is made up of several different parts that tell the story of a country that faced great peril and is bouncing back.

“I came up with the tree of life, of giving back life to Jamaica, and on the tree itself, which is the highest point, it has 14 different leaves representing the 14 parishes. Each leaf is a healing plant — coming back to the tree of life in the
Bible having different fruits on it — and of course the herbs are [for] the healing of the nation,” he explained.

The height of the sculpture represents Jamaica’s 62 years of independence from British rule.

“Everything has a meaning,” said Cole.

Working with his core team and with support from the S Hotel over the last six months, Cole has been putting together a very complex piece of art.“I wanted to show the people that helped along the way. At the bottom of the sculpture you have the trauma that is taking place during the hurricane — people trying to survive. As you can see there is a soldier trying to help a lady who is at the point of giving up, so you can see the anguish on her face, and he’s begging her, ‘Please, don’t give up,’ “ he said about another section of the sculpture.

This Doctor Bird statue that spans one side of the S Hotel was also created by visual artist Scheed Cole who is now working on Together We Rise.

“I have the construction worker; the man with the banana represents agriculture coming back, and it’s a reviving and a rising — and that’s really where the tree came into being. I wanted to show a sculpture that kinda symbolises a refreshing, a revitalising, and a springing back,” he added.

There are also tributes to the international support received. Cole insisted that he wanted the message of revitalisation and recovery to be expressed as clearly as possible, and therefore thanked those who commissioned the piece for the opportunity.

“I give kudos to Christopher Issa who really is the one that has backed it 150 per cent [with] his belief in having the Montego Hip Strip revitalised as well as something iconic for the world to see,” he said.

His dream is for Jamaica — long known for athletics, its food and music — to make a name for itself in the visual arts.

Cole said the piece should be completed in the coming weeks, with plans for an official unveiling in October to mark the passing of Hurricane Melissa.