Story Highlights
- The Kingston to May Pen leg of Highway 2000 has been officially re-named the P.J. Patterson Highway, in honor of Jamaica’s sixth Prime Minister, who was instrumental in initiating the corridor’s development.
- The 44-kilometre toll road, which was developed between 1999 and 2007, runs from Mandela Highway in St. Catherine to the May Pen round-a-bout in Clarendon
- The exercise coincided with Mr. Patterson’s 80th birthday celebrations, and among the guests were members of his family, past and present Ministers of Government, Parliamentarians, Diplomats, Custodes and Mayors and as well as residents of neighbouring communities.
The Kingston to May Pen leg of Highway 2000 has been officially re-named the P.J. Patterson Highway, in honor of Jamaica’s sixth Prime Minister, who was instrumental in initiating the corridor’s development.
The 44-kilometre toll road, which was developed between 1999 and 2007, runs from Mandela Highway in St. Catherine to the May Pen round-a-bout in Clarendon,
Renaming of the roadway was formally announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, during a ceremony at the highway’s Old Harbour interchange in St. Catherine, today (April 17).
The exercise coincided with Mr. Patterson’s 80th birthday celebrations, and among the guests were members of his family, past and present Ministers of Government, Parliamentarians, Diplomats, Custodes and Mayors and as well as residents of neighbouring communities.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Simpson Miller said Mr. Patterson “is most deserving” of the honour, pointing out that spearheading development of a modern highway network “was an example of visionary leadership at its best.”
“Highway 2000 and the north coast highway have helped to open up Jamaica to new levels of tourism and housing development. Jamaicans now have more options in determining where to live, because the highways have cut travel time and reduce the hassle to commute on a daily basis,” she said.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said Jamaica’s highway network will have “pride of place,” as being among “the most revolutionary developments to have taken place in the history of our country.”
- Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson
Additionally, she said Mr. Patterson will, similarly, “have a special place in the history of modern Jamaica,” for his contribution to the network’s development.
Meanwhile, Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, said the turnout for the ceremony was reflective of “universal respect” and “very high esteem” in which Mr. Patterson is held by his peers.
Opposition Spokesman on Industry, Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, who represented Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, said renaming of the highway in Mr. Patterson’s honor was “no surprise to me.”
Mr. Samuda contended that Mr. Patterson’s decision to persevere with the highway’s development, despite the sceptics, “was right.”
In his reply, Mr. Patterson thanked his former colleagues in government, “for their support in making the new highway possible.”
“No one can ask for a greater privilege than to have been able to serve one’s country and, as leader of that country, to help in advancing the welfare of its people. Today, it makes me very proud to be acknowledged by so many (persons),” he said.
Mr. Patterson, who served in public office for over 40 years, holds the distinction of being the longest serving Prime Minister in Jamaica’s history, having done so for 14 consecutive years between 1992 and 2006.
Other speakers included: Chairman, National Road Operating and Constructing Company, Dr. Wayne Reid; and Managing Director of TransJamaican Hughway, which manages the highway, Guillaume Allain.
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