KINGSTON, Jamaica — As the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) marks its 58th year of operations, the national development agency has formalized the appointment of a fresh board of directors, set to steer the organization through a three-year term running from February 23, 2026, to February 22, 2029. This leadership shakeup comes as the UDC leans into expanding its institutional footprint and advancing national development priorities across the island.
The new board assumes its post at a pivotal moment, when the UDC is actively delivering on its broad mandate that spans large-scale urban development, public asset management, and community engagement. The leadership transition is designed to build on the agency’s six-decade legacy while advancing a modern, forward-thinking agenda centered on strategic investment, responsible public stewardship, and organizational transformation.
Norman Brown, incoming board chairman, emphasized that the new leadership team shares a core commitment to upholding ethical governance, delivering rigorous strategic oversight, and advancing the UDC’s public mission — particularly as Jamaica prioritizes climate and infrastructural resilience across all national development work.
“For almost 60 years, the UDC has stood as a foundational national institution that shapes growth across Jamaica,” Brown stated in an official press release issued Friday. “This new board fully grasps the weight of the role we must play to guide the organization through its next chapter of progress. We are dedicated to keeping the UDC focused, transparent, and responsive to public needs as it advances projects and manages assets that deliver tangible, lasting value to all Jamaican people.”
As Jamaica’s leading national development agency, the UDC has played an integral role in building connected communities, developing accessible public spaces, attracting domestic and foreign investment, and managing a vast portfolio of public assets that drive broad-based economic and social progress. Its high-profile holdings include some of the country’s most popular tourist and recreational landmarks: the globally renowned Dunn’s River Falls and Park, Reach Falls, Harmony Beach Park, Ocho Rios Bay Beach, and Turtle River Park.
Beyond managing existing recreational assets, the UDC is currently advancing a slate of high-impact strategic initiatives and development programs across the island. Key ongoing projects include the Portmore Resilience Park, the Raintree Commercial Complex, the Kingston Waterfront Improvement Project, and multiple residential development ventures in the Caymanas area. These projects, alongside the agency’s other ongoing work, contribute to widespread urban renewal, job-creating economic activity, and improved quality of life for communities across Jamaica.
Bobby Honeyghan, UDC’s general manager, noted that the new board’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for the agency, and will provide essential strategic support to keep the organization’s mandate on track. “The UDC’s work touches some of the most visible and impactful areas of national development, and a strong, engaged board is non-negotiable for maintaining the momentum we have built,” Honeyghan explained. “We welcome the new directors to the team and are eager to collaborate closely with them as we strengthen the UDC’s project delivery, expand our public impact, and advance the national development goals of Jamaica.”