PM seeks to assure no widespread demolition for Heroes Park project

Livern Barrett, Senior Parliamentary Reporter

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has sought to assure that there will not be any widespread demolition of buildings in central Kingston as part of the project to construct a new Parliament building in the National Heroes Park.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Holness said the Government Oval Project will involve "some demolition and new construction", but it is not proposed that "virtually all buildings" around the National Heroes Park will be demolished

Residents of Allman Town and adjacent communities have been worried about possible dislocations because of the proposed construction of the new Parliament building.

Holness was responding to central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting in the House of Representatives.

Bunting questioned whether the Holness was aware that the master plan for the project proposes the demolition of the ministries of finance, education and labour "and most of Allman Town."

But Holness dismissed this assertion.

"It, in fact, proposes the re-development of the area and its environs," Holness said.

The Prime Minister noted, however, that the mandate of the project is to redevelop and upgrade public infrastructure, housing stock, as well as commercial and recreational spaces around Heroes Park.

"All existing structures in the project area, including ministry buildings, will be assessed to determine if they are at or past their usable life for replacement or upgrade as necessary," said Holness.

Providing an update on the project, he said a development proposal concept design document was completed in September last year.

He says this document contains baseline information that will form a part of the final master plan to be prepared for the area. 

In addition, Holness said the feasibility of the proposal is being assessed before it is submitted to Cabinet for a final decision.

A town hall is to be held on October 25 to hear residents' concerns.

The Prime Minister indicated that the community and residential components of the project have not yet been detailed.

"The detailing of this area will be informed by the community assessments to be done by the Social Development Commission as a part of determining the feasibility of the wider proposal," he said.

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