KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mitchell Town in Clarendon is poised to become the site of the largest aquaculture development in the entire Caribbean region according to Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon South Eastern, Pearnel Charles Jr.

The Government MP made the confident declaration in the House of Representatives on November 3, during his contribution to the 2026/27 State of the Constituency Debate.

“I want to thank our Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries [Floyd Green] who has confirmed for me that our aquaculture project in Mitchell Town continues to advance …and we’re looking forward to it. It will become the most comprehensive and extensive aquaculture project in the entire Caribbean,” said Charles Jr.

Green told a meeting of Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee on March 7 that the Government plans to establish an agro park in Mitchell Town to produce freshwater fish.

“We’re going to embark on our first ever freshwater fish agro-park; so, it will be an aqua-park. What it means is, just as you can go to an agro-park and you can rent the infrastructure, you will be able to do that, and we’ve identified lands in Mitchell Town,” Green said.

He outlined plans to boost production of tilapia to meet the increase in demand for freshwater fish. Investment of $574 million has been made in the construction of a tilapia hatchery in Twickenham Park, St Catherine to provide quality breeding stock.

Meanwhile, Charles Jr also pointed to Curatoe Hill which he described as the site of Jamaica’s largest pumpkin farms. “And we see the capacity and the opportunity there for agriculture. Also, on our coastline, not to mention Rocky Point,” he said. He described Rocky Point as one of the most comprehensive fishing villages and community in the Caribbean, and said a consultancy was now underway to ensure the development of the area.

The theme of his presentation was “Productivity for all’ and he outlined a vision for his constituency that he hopes will ensure no one is left behind.

“When I think of South East Clarendon it’s not just a list of projects. I think of a student who wants a fair chance, the graduate who wants a job, a farmer who wants a productive season, a fisher who wants to return safely with their catch, a parent who wants a secure home, and a senior who wants to retire with dignity,” said Charles Jr.

“And their hopes are not separate from our development agenda, we have a strategy and a development agenda that we are instituting and implementing in the constituency. What it says is your resilience, the people of South East Clarendon, is what has carried us through,” added the Minister of Labour and Social Security.

-Lynford Simpson