But this depends on the outcome of talks between the Government and private interests to invest millions of US dollars to transform the facility.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer during the final night of the 2024 Reggae Sumfest at Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay on Saturday, Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange said the proposal is for the transformation of the facility into a mega complex at which sports and entertainment events will be staged.

“It will be a major investment,” declared Grange.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, who was also in attendance at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex, claimed that Reggae Sumfest 2024 pumped some US$20 million into Montego Bay’s economy and added that large events have the ability to drive tourism in Jamaica as he talked up the potential of the Trelawny facility.

“When the Trelawny facility comes together properly it will be another venue for mega events. We are excited about the future. Festivals are huge traffic builders in tourism, and in some countries they have a festival every day. Mexico, for example, they have 365 festivals every year. Spain has numerous festivals and Jamaica has cultural elements that can showcase in this kind of segmented way to have festivals and mega events almost every day of the year,” Bartlett said.

He added that he is working with Grange to stage more large events in the country.

“So we are excited about it and we want to see more festivals emerge like this and Minister Grange and I are working together on that to build more events,” Bartlett said as he highlighted the impact of large events, such as Sumfest, on the Jamaican economy.

“Mega events do that and provide jobs for a whole range of people. So, in addition to the impact of entrepreneurship within the space, there… [are] also seasonal jobs for a whole range of people,” said Bartlett as Grange endorsed his comments.

“Minister Bartlett and I, we will continue to work to bring more festivals to Jamaica and to really keep that great brand alive,” said Grange.

“We are one of the most powerful brands in the world and at the centre of destination Jamaica is all that we have to offer, our music, our food, our vibe. As the tourism thing says ‘Come back to the vibe that comes alive in Jamaica.’ And so, this is an opportunity that creates employment from the small entrepreneur to the big brands; they all benefit from this coming together,” said Grange.