Holness hails Montego Bay’s crime turnaround as The Pinnacle tops out Jamaica’s tallest building
Published:Wednesday | December 10, 2025 | 4:37 PM
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says Montego Bay has undergone a dramatic public-safety turnaround, arguing that sustained reductions in crime are essential for the town to fulfil its economic promise.
“We have transformed public safety, criminal violence, and organized crime in Montego Bay before the eyes of the entire country. Next year, we will push even harder to bring our homicide burden below the regional average,” said Holness.
He was speaking at a ceremony today to mark the symbolic final concrete pour at Tower One at The Pinnacle development – the 100-metre superstructure that has become Jamaica’s tallest building.
Holness reflected on the difficult period in 2017 when St James recorded more than 200 murders and the Government declared a State of Public Emergency to restore order.
“It reduced murders, and we managed to maintain those gains for several years,” he said.
Today, he said, the statistics show a transformed reality.
The parish has recorded a 42.5 per cent decline in murders this year, following reductions of 19 per cent in 2024 and eight per cent in 2023.
Jamaica’s overall homicide rate has moved from 50 per 100,000 people to about 25 per 100,000, placing the country among the lowest in the region.
Holness stressed that sustained reductions in crime are essential for Montego Bay to fulfil its economic promise.
“The security concern has created some hesitancy in truly realizing all of this,” he noted, gesturing toward the rising structure.
“For The Pinnacle, and for Montego Bay to achieve their full potential, we must continue driving the murder rate down and ensuring citizen security and public order.”
The ceremony also marked a historic moment for Jamaica’s skyline.
With Tower One now standing at 100 metres, The Pinnacle has officially become the tallest building in the country, reshaping the Reading Peninsula and setting a new benchmark for luxury residential development.
At approximately 58 per cent completion, the tower forms the first phase of a US$450-million master-planned development by LCH Development Ltd, in partnership with global hospitality leader Accor/Ennismore.
It also introduces Jamaica’s first branded residences.
Engineering achievements include: 2,157 cubic metres of concrete in the foundation; 20,000 tonnes of reinforcement steel – the equivalent of nearly three Eiffel Towers; steel stretching more than 300 kilometres if laid end to end; 36 kilometres of horizon visibility from upper floors; and masonry at Level 16, with MEP installations completed to Level 15.
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