Government Acting on Environmental Matters as Prime Minister Holness Delivers Improved Annotto Bay Coastal Area
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has officially handed over the completed Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project, marking a significant milestone in Jamaica’s ongoing Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP).
Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, in Annotto Bay, St. Mary, the Prime Minister highlighted that the project, executed at a cost of approximately JMD 244 million, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to build climate-resilient infrastructure, protect vulnerable communities, and safeguard critical roadways from the increasing threats posed by climate change.
“Governments can’t just sit by and say, well, it’s just nature. Governments have to act. And governments have to build infrastructure that can withstand some of the natural occurrences of sea level rise and other weather and climate events,” the Prime Minister stated.
The coastal defence work included the installation of revetments and groynes along a 244-metre stretch of the Annotto Bay shoreline. These structures are specifically designed to slow wave action, reduce coastal erosion, and help capture and retain sand, preserving what remains of the town’s natural buffer zone. Recreational walkways were also constructed, giving residents access to safe and scenic public spaces.
“This project is one example of the partnership for development. And this project is called the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, of which the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Project is a part. We have done coastal protection work in Kingston, we have built and upgraded fire stations, and now we have completed critical coastal works here in Annotto Bay.”
The DVRP is being implemented in partnership with the World Bank, and with local oversight by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). Prime Minister Holness praised these agencies for their fiscal diligence and efficient use of borrowed development funds.
“Now the way in which the government works with our development partners is that we have an entity, well, we have two. One is the PIOJ, and the other is the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. They work together to ensure that these funds achieve the objectives for which we borrow. It’s one thing when you use your own money and waste it. It’s another thing to use borrowed money and waste it.”
The Prime Minister reminded the public that while 244 meters of the town’s 900-meter coastline have now been fortified, future phases are already under consideration to complete the full scope of protection for the area. However, Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the successful delivery of this first phase is a powerful signal of Jamaica’s seriousness in addressing climate risks.
With the Annotto Bay works now complete, residents and visitors alike will benefit from improved coastal safety, better infrastructure, and renewed public spaces that will help secure the town’s long-term future.