Businessman Norman Brown is new UDC board chairman 

New chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), businessman Norman Brown, has committed to building on his predecessor's leadership in getting the state agency to do more "big things" to transform rural townships in Jamaica.

Brown has succeeded attorney Ransford Braham, KC, who led the board since 2016.

That board's tenure officially ended last September but it continued to work until the new leadership was appointed earlier this month. Brown was a member of the board. 

The UDC controls significant chunks of government real estate and is tasked with undertaking urban and rural renewal, as well as orderly development in designated areas.  

Brown said his board will intensify the agency's efforts to stimulate expansion in the economy through investments in major rural townships. 

He named Lucea in Hanover as one of the major projects. 

The UDC is also the project manager for the proposed Government Campus which will feature a redeveloped National Heroes Park in Kingston. It is to include a new parliament building. 

Brown owns Pembrooke Trucking, a transport, real estate development and cement distribution company based in St James. 

He is expected to continue as chairman of the board of the Housing Agency of Jamaica. 

In accordance with government's policy for board appointments, some members of the previous board have been retained while new officials are to be named.

- Jovan Johnson

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