Holness urges developers to help rebuild Ja

WESTERN BUREAU:

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the topping out of Tower One at The Pinnacle marks a major step forward for Jamaica’s tourism diversification strategy.

However, he insists that luxury development must go hand-in-hand with rebuilding homes, improving public order, and ensuring workers benefit from the sector’s growth.

Speaking at the ceremony for Jamaica’s new tallest building, Holness said the Government remains acutely aware of the national mood following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

“We can’t be celebrating luxury when there are thousands of households without roofs,” the prime minister said. “I want Jamaica to understand that they are not forgotten. Every hour of my day is spent figuring out how to get roofs back on homes quickly, effectively, affordably and sustainably.”

Holness said that while The Pinnacle represents Jamaica’s entry into a new “luxury and lifestyle” tourism segment, development cannot occur in isolation.

“Hotels have been built without housing for workers, without proper sewage, water, airport expansion or highway planning,” he said. “We can no longer develop tourism as a silo.”

Holness stressed that the Government is reshaping its tourism policy to connect the sector more deliberately to national development, beginning with housing.

“We must now expand linkages to include the welfare and well-being of workers,” he said. “Housing is a critical linkage.”

He noted that new tourism projects are already being required to include dormitories or worker housing units, and said funds previously allocated for tourism-related housing may be repurposed for post-hurricane reconstruction.

Holness challenged LCH Development, the team behind The Pinnacle, to play a role.

“If you can build this tower in a year, you can build thousands of houses,” he said.

“The Government of Jamaica is willing to partner with you on low-income housing for those most affected.”

LCH Development CEO Yangsen Li said the company welcomes the prime minister’s vision and remains committed to projects that elevate Jamaica while integrating responsible development.

“Tower ONE is more than a milestone, it is a statement of confidence in Jamaica,” Li said.

“We believe luxury and community development can coexist, and we support the Government’s mission to uplift workers, strengthen infrastructure and build sustainably.”

“Our goal is to build the future without compromising the assets that make Jamaica extraordinary,” he said.

Residents will enjoy world-class amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, a cabana-lined pool deck, dining spaces, and a mini marina with 15 slips reserved for penthouse owners. The Pinnacle Centre will house a grocery, café, tapas lounge, pharmacy, urgent care and curated retail options.

Li said the topping out represents a defining moment in Caribbean luxury development.

“Achieving topping out on Tower One marks a transformative moment not only for The Pinnacle, but for Jamaica’s entire luxury landscape,” he said. “Standing as the nation’s tallest building, Tower One demonstrates our commitment to reshaping Caribbean living through exceptional design, engineering and hospitality.”

The development integrates sustainability at its core, including solar energy, rainwater harvesting and living green walls. Its strategic location on the Reading Peninsula offers natural protection, with the site’s maximum historical storm surge measured at 1.2 metres.

Completion of Tower One is targeted for 2027, with two additional towers to follow under the Ennismore hospitality portfolio. Sales are now open for Tower One’s 141 freehold residences, ranging from 91-square-metre homes to expansive 465-square-metre layouts, each featuring 2.9-metre ceilings and floor-to-ceiling Category 5 hurricane-resistant glazing.

Holness, in his speech, also addressed environmental concerns surrounding large-scale coastal developments, saying he had personally reviewed the project with LCH to ensure sustainability.

“At the end of the day, the aura around Montego Bay is not skyscrapers,” he said.

“It is sun, sea, sand, safety and security. We must preserve what distinguishes us.”

He warned against development that makes Jamaica feel indistinguishable from other destinations.

“You want tourists to feel they are in Jamaica, not anywhere else,” he said.

Holness also raised issues of municipal order and aesthetic standards, noting that inconsistent frontage and untidy streets undermine the destination’s appeal.

“You can’t have a beautiful development here, and then two doors down everything is chaos,” he said. “Tourism requires a level of order and seamlessness.”

He encouraged local authorities to strengthen enforcement, and urged businesses to improve their properties’ outward appearance.

Holness said Jamaica’s long-term success requires unifying luxury investment, worker well-being, environmental protection and orderly development.

“My job is to bring the country together so we can all progress as one,” he said.

“This project shows what Jamaica can achieve, but we must ensure no one is left behind.”

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com