Multibillion-dollar military base to replace Up Park Camp

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced that the government will be establishing a new military base to house members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). 

 

JDF members are now stationed at Up Park Camp in St. Andrew.

 

Making his contribution to the budget debate on Thursday, Prime Minister Holness disclosed that the island's soldiers will be relocated to a new military base to be constructed at a cost of $5 billion. 

 

The new military camp will be based in East Kingston. 

 

"In the coming financial year, the JDF will move forward with the establishment of Camp Wareika, a Forward Operating Base on approximately 100 acres of land, at an estimated cost of $5 billion. The Forward Operating Base will enhance the JDF territorial dominance of the Liguanea Plains through enhanced strategic communications and situational awareness. But it is also a resilient building measure, Madam Speaker, because as Newcastle becomes an aged camp, we have to find other strategic locations where we can house our Defence Force... So Camp Wareika is going to become the new base and location for the JDF," he announced.

 

Dr. Holness said Up Park Camp would not be "totally demobilised".