They promise growth, jobs, and modern housing, but the question is harder to ignore: development for whom?
KINGSTON, Jamaica, January 2025 — Across Jamaica, cranes and concrete have become as much a part of the landscape as beaches and hills. From gated housing schemes in St. Catherine to resort anchored developments along the north coast, real estate developers are reshaping the island at a pace that reflects both opportunity and unease.
By 2025, the role of the Jamaican real estate developer has expanded well beyond building homes. Developers are now central players in economic policy, tourism strategy, and infrastructure planning. Government backed housing programmes, including those led by the National Housing Trust, continue to push for increased supply, with tens of thousands of housing solutions delivered over the past decade. At the same time, private developers have accelerated projects aimed at middle and upper income buyers, as well as overseas investors seeking a foothold in…
