Opposition Urges PM Holness to Intervene in Montego Bay Perimeter Road Dispute

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Opposition Spokesperson on Housing and Sustainable Living, Professor Floyd Morris, is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to directly engage with affected homeowners in Montego West Village, St James, who stand to lose significant portions of their property due to the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project.

According to Morris, 16 homeowners are at risk of displacement or substantial encroachment, following recent communications from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation—an entity under the Prime Minister’s portfolio. The notices reportedly indicate that properties, originally developed by Gore Development Ltd and financed through the National Housing Trust (NHT), are likely to be impacted by the infrastructure project.

“These individuals have subsequently seen surveys done that will result in substantial reductions of the size of their properties,” said Morris. “The loss of value that these homeowners will suffer is significant.”

Morris criticized Prime Minister Holness for what he described as a lack of responsiveness, accusing him of ignoring repeated appeals from the affected residents.

“While the homeowners have been making strenuous efforts to seek justice, Holness, who is the minister with direct responsibility for this situation, has not seen it fit to respond to their plight,” Morris stated. “This is a reprehensible and unacceptable failure on his part. The people of Montego West Village deserve justice and fairness in this matter.”

The Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project, a major infrastructure development aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city, has faced mounting concern from community members and advocacy groups regarding its social and environmental impact.

So far, no official response has been issued by the Office of the Prime Minister or the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation