Stewart's breaks ground for Jaguar, Land Rover showroom - More than US$13m invested in South Avenue facility

Stewart's Automotive Group, one of Jamaica's largest car dealerships, has officially broken ground for two state-of-the-art showrooms for its Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands.

The US$13-million full-service dealership will be located at 2 South Avenue (off Arthur Wint Drive) and will span over 5,000 square metres, with Jaguar and Land Rover occupying the first two floors and rental properties occupying the upper floors.

Delivering the keynote address at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness referred to Stewart's investment as the perfect example of businesses taking risks and reinvesting in the country's development. He also highlighted the employment potential of the project, saying: "I've been to many ground-breakings of a similar nature, and an immediate effect on the economy is that it creates jobs, and I'm very happy for that. In addition, I like the fact that this building will have space for not just the showroom and other facilities to do with the business at hand, but you will have space for BPO rental, and that is great because that generates significant employment."

In closing, Holness commended the Stewart family, saying: "All in all, this is such a great development for this area, in particular for Kingston, and for Jamaica. I wish to congratulate the Stewart family and encourage them to keep on investing. The Government gives the commitment that we will continue to ensure that the environment for business is friendly, that it's inclusive, conducive, and that it gives you the ability to make even greater investment decisions and take even greater risks."

Jamaicans for Jamaica

Speaking of the opportunities that the BPO rental will create, Jacqueline Stewart-Lechler, director of the family-owned Stewart's Automotive Group, said: "We're excited to be entering the BPO sector, creating jobs for Jamaicans and opportunities for our business partners, the professionals, bankers, and customer partners, among others. We are proud that we are Jamaicans for Jamaica, and this project is supporting local businesses."

Duncan Stewart, also a director at Stewart's, shared: "We are excited about starting the new year with this milestone achievement. Our new Jaguar and Land Rover showrooms will no doubt ensure that we continue delivering the highest quality of service that our customers have become accustomed to since our inception over 80 years now.

"I'd like to use this opportunity to thank the prime minister and his administration for their support on this project, our dedicated staff for always going above and beyond to make Stewart's a trusted and formidable brand in Jamaica, and our customers for trusting us with their driving experience in Jamaica."

The construction of the new Jaguar and Land Rover facility is expected to provide a significant amount of direct employment during the construction phase while raising the appeal of the area and making it even more attractive to other investors. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

Stewart's Automotive Group has enjoyed the reputation of being a first-class, full-service dealership, carrying one of the widest ranges of spare parts and accessories for car dealers in the English-speaking Caribbean.