Prime Minister Holness: Major Infrastructure Projects Must Build Jamaican Capacity
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has reiterated that Jamaica’s infrastructure programme must not only deliver roads and public assets but must also build the technical and professional capacity of Jamaican workers through intentional skills transfer and training.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the US 81-million-dollar Port Antonio Bypass on June 26, the Prime Minister noted that large-scale infrastructure projects must serve as platforms for developing local talent, ensuring that Jamaicans are not just participants but leaders in the sector’s long-term growth.
“As we undertake these massive projects, we must ensure that we are building Jamaicans in the process. This is about more than physical development; it is about human development.”
Referencing the Montego Bay Bypass Project, which is being implemented by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the Prime Minister said he was encouraged by the high level of Jamaican participation on the ground.
“When I toured the site recently, I was very pleased to see that more than 90 percent of the workforce was Jamaican, from the steel man to the engineer. That is the kind of direction we must continue to take.”
The Prime Minister noted that China Harbour, as one of Jamaica’s longstanding infrastructure partners, is increasingly engaged in facilitating the training and integration of local workers, aligning with the Government’s broader push for capacity building.
“International partnerships must be structured in a way that strengthens us. We welcome investment and expertise, but we must also insist that every project leaves behind better-skilled, better-equipped Jamaicans who can carry the industry forward.”
He emphasized that this approach is now embedded in the Government’s infrastructure strategy, ensuring that projects deliver lasting economic value through workforce development, skills certification, and upward mobility.
“When we build roads, we are also seeking to build people. That is how you create a self-reliant economy and a future where Jamaicans can lead, innovate, and take ownership of national development.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that this model will continue to guide future infrastructure projects across the island.