When Claudette Crooks set out in 2022 to build a commercial project in Kingston, she had a pointed challenge for Jamaica’s pension fund managers: Instead of investing incremental amounts in New York and London, invest here.

Pension fund managers, credit unions, other investment firms and one individual backed Crooks’ idea and Thursday morning The Sana, a US$25-million, 103,000 sq ft mixed-use landmark at 5–7 South Avenue, Kingston 10, near Half-Way Tree — broke ground.

“It’s a statement of confidence in what we do,” said Crooks, who is president of MoneyMasters Limited and acting CEO of MoneyMasters-REIF South Development Limited.