Bell Rock gets infrastructure upgrade

More than 100 households in the Bell Rock community of Olympic Way in Kingston are expected to benefit from a newly completed concrete pavement and infrastructure improvement project valued at more than $8 million.

The project was officially handed over on Friday by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and representatives of Caribbean Cement Company Limited. It was funded through CEMEX’s corporate social responsibility programme in partnership with its local subsidiary, Caribbean Cement.

The works were designed to tackle long-standing drainage, safety and health concerns that have affected residents for years, while significantly upgrading shared community infrastructure.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Holness, who is member of parliament for St Andrew West Central where Bell Rock is located, reflected on the community’s history, noting that it was established in the 1950s as emergency housing following Hurricane Charlie. Over time, he said, the area evolved from two-storey multi-family apartment blocks into wooden bungalow-style houses with support from Food For the Poor.

While residents have continued to maintain their homes, Holness said the community’s common spaces had deteriorated and were in urgent need of attention.

“The community, after 25 years of semi-permanent housing, needs a serious reconsideration, refresh, and rebuild. One of the things that we have decided to do is to improve the common surfaces that all the households in the community share,” Holness said.

He explained that severe water accumulation, muddy conditions, flooding risks and mosquito breeding created significant challenges for residents, making the infrastructure upgrade necessary.

The prime minister also thanked CEMEX and Caribbean Cement for supporting the project and bringing it to completion.

“I’m sure that the households that were affected… are no longer at risk and so, they haven’t told me yet, but I am taking the liberty on their behalf to extend gratitude to CEMEX and the Carib Cement Company for paving this area,” Holness said.

The project included the installation of 600 square metres of concrete pavement, road patching, drainage improvements and decorative concrete features aimed at addressing infrastructure deficiencies in key sections of the community.

Beyond the physical works, the initiative also focused on skills training and employment. Nineteen Bell Rock residents were employed during the project and received formal instruction in safety procedures and specialised concrete pavement application techniques.

Caribbean Cement Managing Director Jorge Martinez said the training would leave lasting benefits for participants.

“We believe that this transfer of knowledge will redound in the benefit of those that have been engaged and involved in this project, equipping them with the highest skills that can be applied beyond this project,” Martinez said.