Construction of Morant Bay Urban Centre scheduled to begin this month

Some residents of St Thomas say they are not holding their breath that construction on the Morant Bay Urban Centre will finally start after three years.

"Mi can't wait for them to start tear down the place so mi can get couple of the zinc fi build up mi mother place. Mi know dem naw go have any use for them," shared one bartender in Berlin, who was unimpressed by the news from the Factories Corporation of Jamaica that work is to begin on the property this month. The initiative is expected to employ some 400 persons on a phased basis. Berlin is one of several communities that neighbours the old factory and the Good Year Oval. Over in Friendship Pen, a haze of hopelessness clouded residents, many of whom have been depending on a 'hustle' culture to feed their families. Bar operators share that business has not been good.

"To be honest sometimes not even a bills mi nuh mek for the day... all drop mi drop asleep in here a day time. Round here underdeveloped bad so we would really want fi see the new place open up but a long time we hear dem a talk and all now," said one woman.

Wayne Walker, whose business overlooks the old factory that has become an eyesore for many in the parish, was not overly optimistic.

"Right now seeing is believing because a nuff times mi get trick. I don't even want to discuss it because if St Thomas people see me a talk about it dem might think mi a poppy show. About three times them break the same ground and all now," he shared. Walker described as shameful the way in which the property has been treated.

"Day time goats roam like is a goat pen and night time people drive over there go have sex and all sort of things. Sometimes all 15 cars park up like it's an open motel. It is a shame. You find condom, defecation, wipes... all underwear sometimes. The poor security can't even say anything sometimes because you have to be careful these days," he said.

Walker said that he is holding on to faith that people in the area will soon begin to benefit from the employment opportunities.

"Mi dying to see it open. We really need jobs here. We are just tired of it, of the talking... no jobs, just promises. Mi not even want to hear about it again until it happen because we get fooled in St Thomas too many times over the years. Millions of dollars spent cleaning up the place and nothing at all nuh come," Walker said.