Ocho Rios-Discovery Bay corridor to drive Jamaica’s next wave of growth
Ocho Rios in St Ann is poised for explosive growth, with 10,000 homes, highways, and new business centres planned, Member of Parliament (MP) Matthew Samuda declared during the opening of Uncorked Ochi, located in Drax Hall, which has been tagged Jamaica’s “new frontier”.
Samuda, the MP for St Ann Northeast, who won re-election in last week’s general election, told the audience that the Ocho Rios–Discovery Bay corridor is “the future of living and the centre of all investments in Jamaica”.
He revealed that 10,000 homes are scheduled for construction within the next seven years, alongside two new highways that will reshape access across St Ann. He added that the parish is on track to welcome AI centres, logistics hubs, call centres, and major tourism investments, including high-rises, villas, boutique hotels, and sizeable resorts during Uncorked’s official opening on Monday.
“This corridor will lead Jamaica’s next wave of prosperity,” Samuda said. “But investors also need lifestyle, a good meal, a good glass of wine. With Uncorked here, we can say to the world: Ocho Rios is ready.”
Samuda argued that Jamaica’s food and beverage industry has become far more sophisticated in the past two decades, with brands like Uncorked helping to set a new standard. He also stressed that Jamaica’s fiscal reforms have made the country “worthy of investment”, giving international stakeholders both confidence and comfort in choosing to build here.
The choice of Drax Hall for Uncorked’s latest venture is no accident. Once a quiet stretch outside Ocho Rios, the community has rapidly transformed into one of St Ann’s most sought-after addresses.
Today, Drax Hall is home to a cluster of popular restaurants, cafés, and entertainment spots, alongside large-scale housing schemes and gated communities. Developers have dubbed it “the new frontier”, a label now reinforced by Samuda’s projections of residential and commercial growth.
With major road projects under way and additional investment expected, the strip is becoming a lifestyle hub that blends dining, leisure, and residential convenience, a modern complement to Ocho Rios’s established tourism pull.
Uncorked’s founder, Anna-Kay Harrison, reminded guests that the brand began with nothing more than a dream and a glass of wine. In 2010, she and two friends decided to open a small cheese shop. By February 2011, they had launched their first store in Kingston.
“We had no business plan, no market research, our research was a trip to Whole Foods,” she said with a smile. “But customers pushed us to grow, and our team carried us through.”
From a 400-square-foot shop, Uncorked expanded into a bistro at Sovereign North in 2013, then west to Montego Bay in 2017. Today, with five locations and 160 staff members, the company has become a leader in Jamaica’s food and beverage scene.
Harrison described the Ocho Rios outlet as the group’s “newest baby”, designed to bring Uncorked’s signature wine-and-cheese culture to the heart of St Ann’s emerging growth corridor.
For Samuda, that alignment between lifestyle and investment was critical.
“When investors come to St Ann, they will find not just opportunity, but culture, sophistication, and hospitality,” he said. “Uncorked Ocho Rios is proof that we are ready.”
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250910/samuda-ocho-rios-discovery-bay-corridor-drive-jamaicas-next-wave-growth