Press Release From The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport:
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The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, dips her foot into the public pool at Rockfort Mineral Bath in Kingston. Also pictured is Managing Director of Carib Cement, Jorge Martinez, and Executive Director of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, Leslie Harrow (right). |
Kingston, 21 August 2025 – “We have delivered,” said the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, as she officially re-opened the Rockfort Mineral Bath facility in Kingston on Thursday (this afternoon).
Minister Grange said the reopening of the Rockfort Mineral Bath, which is set for Friday morning, was one of the priority targets for her Ministry this year.
This follows the signing of a 25-year lease agreement in 2024 between the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and Carib Cement for the upgrade, management and operation of Rockfort Mineral Bath.
Under the public-private agreement, Carib Cement will operate the Rockfort Mineral Bath and upgrade the facilities through investment of J$57 million over the next five years.
At Thursday’s re-opening ceremony marking the completion of phase one of the renovations, the Managing Director of Carib Cement, Jorge Martinez, said the company had already spent J$16 million in major upgrades.
“We invested more or less triple what we had calculated at the beginning, because in the middle of this [work] Hurricane Beryl, storm Rafael, and the heavy rainy season that we had last year [caused a lot of damage],” said Martinez.
Rockfort Mineral Bath is a national monument renowned for having healing properties. The Minister said that with the reopening, Jamaicans and visitors would again be attracted to take a dip in its healing stream.
The Minister said Rockfort Mineral Bath would become “part of the Kingston culture, heritage, entertainment and tourism circuit that the government continues to build out as part of the effort to attract more tourists to Kingston.”
Minister Grange said she also anticipated Jamaicans returning to the traditional use of the Mineral Bath.
“I see families coming again to this location as they did so many years ago before the facility was closed. I can hear again the pitter patter of the little feet of our children running around with their parents while taking advantage of the mineral bath, known for its therapeutic value. I can feel the spirit of communities as they come from near and far to experience the magical feeling of a mineral bath,” said Minister Grange.
Carib Cement said the rates for use of the Mineral Bath will be $500 for children between four and 12 years old as well as seniors 55 years old and over; and $700 for adults.
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Very good that the bath reopens. We need something like this in Kingston
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to have this facility upgraded and reopened! I didn’t think it was going to happen, it seemed to be taking so long. Nearly every Jamaican has memories of ‘Rock Fort’, the price could be cut by 50% for children and seniors, and adults pay $500. I do know that the refurbishment cost however, we need to remember some of our families will have a challenge meeting that cost (transport to & fro, entrance fee, snack) it adds up.
ReplyDeleteAnyho, we are extremely happy to have ‘Rock Fort Mineral Bath’ up & running!! We need to take care of it!!
One Love Jamaica!! A Stupendous Country & People!
Wow! Awesome 👌🏾 news big ups aunty Babsey and all stakeholders i really didn't expect it to be so affordable $500-$700 nice everyone can go and get a dip if so choose.
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