- IAN ALLEN /Staff Photographer
Kingsley Thomas (right) is all smiles after being presented with a Gleaner Honour Award by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke last year.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES one era from another? Some eras are defined by the great wars fought and won, some by their great architecture, and some by their great discoveries and yet other eras are defined by the works and achievements of men.
For the last quarter of a century, Jamaica has been particularly blessed to have one man so committed to the service of his country.
He has been called the ideas man, maverick at times, and one of the most hardworking public servants in Jamaica primarily because he is known to get things done.
He is Kingsley Charles Thomas. For a man who was unsure at age 18 of what he wanted to become, in the eyes of many Jamaicans, he has certainly become a national leader, a primary example of a man whose driving ambition is to see his country develop and prosper.
TECHNICALLY DARING PROJECTS
As head of Jamaica's premier development financial institution, the Development Bank of Jamaica Ltd., Mr. Thomas has distinguished himself as an accomplished and highly respected, multifaceted and results-oriented individual. He has been known to be involved in some of the most strategically important and technically daring projects, administering and spearheading them from concept stage through to completion. And this he has done with great determination, passion, humility and energy.
Today, a number of projects are imprints of his sterling contribution to Jamaica. His biggest and perhaps his finest achievement to date is Highway 2000. He has taken this project through concept stage, development and implementation. The 236-kilometre Highway 2000, Jamaica's first toll highway, is Jamaica's and the region's single largest infrastructure project.
In September 2003, the first segment of Highway 2000, the Old Harbour bypass, was opened to the public with usage in excess of initially targeted levels.
On December 15, 2004, the Bushy Park to Mandela segment, which forms part of phase one of the multibillion-dollar project, was opened to the public, two months ahead of its initial schedule.
This ambitious project, which many felt would not materialise, has not only demonstrated what can be achieved with determination and skill by Jamaicans, but will for years to come improve the lives of thousands of Jamaicans as the Highway will, as it has already started to be, a principal catalyst for economic growth, job creation and national development.
NHT CHAIRMAN
In 2004, as chairman of the National Housing Trust, Jamaica's largest housing financial institution, Mr. Thomas spearheaded another major development. In conjunction with the government's announced redevelopment of downtown Kingston, he initiated the develop-ment of a J$5 billion programme for the redevelopment of inner-city communities.
The programme involves the provision of approximately 5,000 new medium-rise apartment units in downtown Kingston and selected communities in rural Jamaica. That is new shelter for approximately 15,000 persons.
Construction is well under way in the inner-city communities of Kingston and St. Andrew with some units slated for handover early in 2005.
In fulfilment of the aim to lift the quality of life of the people in inner-city communities, a social development programme has also been implemented. Persons in the selected inner-city communities have been exposed to a number of training programmes in leadership, conflict resolution, parenting, and practical skills such as cosmetology, catering, bookkeeping and basic accounting.
RELOCATION 2000
It was he, too, who conceptualised and spearheaded the development of the Relocation 2000 programme which involved the relocation of persons in informal communities into newly built communities to improve their living condition. To date, over 200 families have been relocated from cardboard and zinc shacks to well-laid out planned communities with all the necessary social and physical amenities.
Another of his signature projects is the development of Emancipation Park in New Kingston. The idea of developing the once dusty bowl into a first class park had come to him many years earlier.
EMANCIPATION PARK
In five months, with workmen working day and night to build the structures and lay trails, (with Mr. Thomas at many times overseeing the works until 5:00 a.m.), the park was sufficiently complete for its official opening on July 31, 2002. The park is today, a welcome respite used by thousands for recreation, relaxation and exercise.
His experience gained at the helm of numerous private sector and public sector entities has moulded him for any job. Those who have worked with him, regard him as a powerful negotiator, shrewd businessman, deeply analytical, uncompromising in terms of performance and multi-skilled. Some even consider him a workaholic.
He has been credited to have negotiated and arranged a number of innovative financing packages from external sources, one of which was a facility for 65 million euros to provide financing to Jamaica's sugar industry. This was later listed among the trade finance deals of the year in a leading international trade finance journal.
HARMONY COVE RESORT
Kingsley Thomas is the man behind the concept of a $72 billion development, called Harmony Cove Resort. The development involves the creation of a five-star resort colony consisting of close to 5,000 rooms including hotels, villas and townhouses.
The planned development has drawn the interest of more than 80 investors from the U.S.A., Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East as well as from Jamaica. And if all goes well, by mid-year, Kingsley is convinced that work will begin on the transformation of the 1,400 acres of prime beachfront land stretching from Braco to Silver Sands in Trelawny, into "an unparalleled tourism product in the Caribbean and even in the world."
OTHER PROJECTS
And, as if these were not enough, Kingsley Thomas is at the forefront of a number of other major developments which include: the development of a New Town at Inverness in Clarendon; the development of retirement villages for sale to returning residents as well as Jamaican residents; the new 'Greenfield' multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny; the development of the wharves in Falmouth as a primary attraction for Jamaicans and tourists, which will consist of first class restaurants, shops, a museum and a concert hall; the restoration of Barrett House in Falmouth which will be the site of a library containing the poetry and other literary works of the world famous writer and poet, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning; and the Jamaica Music Revue which is planned to showcase in music and dance the rich musical heritage of Jamaica.
Today, he has gained the respect of members of the government and opposition alike as well as leaders in the private sector. He has at times been chided for his public utterances and at other times praised for his work on the most strategically important and technically daring projects which he has spearheaded.
ORDER OF JAMAICA
In 2002, he was conferred the honour of the Order of Jamaica in recognition of his distinguished service to national development projects.
He is also the recipient of the highest award of Rotary Interna-tional A Paul Harris fellow in recognition of his contribution to the development of Jamaica.
In 2003, Mr. Thomas was nominated and selected for the Gleaner Award for Excellence in the category, Public Service. In 2004, he was again nominated for the Gleaner Award for Excellence in the category, Public Service.
When the annals of the history of Jamaica will have been written, this pioneer, entrepreneur, extra-ordinary, daring, at times contro-versial, outspoken and committed public servant, justice of the peace and father of three, Kingsley Thomas is sure to be recognised as one among those who has served his country well.
