3,000 BPO jobs expected at Jamaica’s new urban center
ST. THOMAS, JAMAICA — The soon-to-be-completed Morant Bay Urban Centre in St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica, is set to generate at least 3,000 jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
The announcement was made during a tour of the site on November 13, where key stakeholders provided updates on the project’s progress.
Lyttleton Shirley, Chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), confirmed that a leading BPO provider has already committed to establishing operations at the facility.
“We are talking about employing some two to 3,000 persons in the BPO for young people, middle-aged people, and bright people of a higher age who want to go into the technology and business of information,” Shirley added.
Economic boost for St. Thomas
The introduction of thousands of BPO jobs is expected to significantly improve employment opportunities in St Thomas, a parish that has historically been underserved in terms of economic development.
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is being hailed as a transformative project for the region, providing new opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the development’s importance, stating that it will create “the new economy of St Thomas.”
“This is about creating an atmosphere where every Jamaican and everybody from St Thomas can come and do business, can live and raise their families [and] can earn an income. That is what we are building here, without having to contend with overcrowded streets [and] congestion, as how it is in the town right now, it is inconvenient,” Holness stated.
Micro business park and courthouse to be built
In addition to the BPO jobs, plans are underway to acquire 10 additional acres of land for a micro business park at the urban center. This park will support small businesses with facilities such as mini-warehouses and micro-business units for shoemakers, hairdressers, and other entrepreneurs.
Shirley described it as “something that you have never seen before,” with provisions to help small businesses acquire equipment through flexible rent arrangements.
The urban center will also house what Shirley called “the most modern courthouse to be built in the Caribbean,” along with greenhouses and cold storage facilities to support local farmers.
Completion expected within 1-2 months
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is slated for completion by December 2024 or January 2025. Once finished, it is expected to serve as a major economic hub for St Thomas and surrounding areas, providing residents with access to modern infrastructure and new employment opportunities across multiple sectors.
