“Quite frankly, I would say that that level of high-rise that is slated should really not happen until the infrastructure is improved,” she added. “It’s residential, commercial and industrial, and a proper balance has to be struck.” “The concerns are real and any tourism development in the Freeport Peninsula must balance or take into consideration the fact that it is also a residential community,” said Malahoo Forte, who is also the minister of legal and constitutional affairs in the Holness administration. Marlene Malahoo Forte, the member of parliament for St James West Central, where the Freeport Peninsula is located, told The Sunday Gleaner that she is standing in solidarity with the residents. They shouldn’t be given any permit,” said a prominent Montego Bay businessman and Freeport resident, who requested anonymity. “Secrets has not been a good community citizen therefore, it is my opinion that the development needs to be scaled back until the necessary upgrades are done by the Government. They claim that efforts to discuss the concerns with the Spanish operators have gone unheeded. Residents of the Lagoons also expressed concern that, along with the noise pollution, an increase in the existing garbage and sewerage problems is a recipe for disaster. The residents say the towering building opposite the community’s public park and other residential properties is not what they were expecting after investing millions to purchase their homes.
“Please also note that a three-plus-storey, 370 spaces parking garage, will tower above our homes, grounds and common area, completely changing the privacy and aesthetics of our exclusive 20-year-old residential development,” Dear said in his letter. Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.īusinessman Ian Dear, who chairs the board of Emerald Cay properties, also wrote to Knight, stating that the residents will not support the construction of a multi-storey car park adjacent to their development, which he contends would result in a significant increase in noise, air and light pollution and have a negative impact on the tranquillity of their community. “The construction of a 10-storey structure directly across the very narrow roadway – of only 20 feet – separating Secrets from Ocean Pines would lead to the dwarfing and overpowering of the latter, completely changing the character and ambience of the entire locale,” Dr Geoffrey Williams, chairman of the Ocean Pines Management Committee, wrote in a letter addressed to Peter Knight, CEO of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), a copy of which was seen by The Sunday Gleaner. They are demanding that the Government addresses a number of infrastructural deficiencies before another investment is considered for the community. The project is estimated to cost approximately US$70 million and should be completed within 24 months after breaking ground, the company’s management told The Sunday Gleaner.īut residential property owners in the community are opposing the development, which they say will place added pressure on an already-overburdened infrastructure and deprive them of their privacy. SKIL, which also operates the adults-only Breathless Resort and Spa, began operating in Jamaica in 2010 and is hoping to get approval by year end to begin the construction of its family offering, Dreams Resort and Spa. Seawind Key Investment Limited (SKIL), operator of the 700-room Secrets Resorts in Freeport, Montego Bay in St James, is facing strong objection to its plan to construct a 281-room hotel in the upscale community.
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