While the town boasts the title of parish capital, its development has been stagnated for years, with only superficial infrastructural developments, like the building of popular international fast-food franchises.

In the same breath, surrounding towns, such as Priory, Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay, have rapidly improved and, in fact, surpassed St Ann's Bay in terms of prominence.

So what makes St Ann's Bay important to the parish of St Ann and Jamaica today?

Home of largest hospital

St Ann's Bay's importance comes, in part, because it is home to the largest hospital in the parish - the St Ann's Bay Hospital.

There is also the tremendous historical heritage of the town, carried on by landmarks such as the Seville Heritage site and the life-sized statues of Marcus Garvey and Christopher Columbus.

St Ann's Bay also functions like a capital town with many major governmental organisations being offered mainly from there. The parish transport depot, the St Ann Parish Council and a number of primary, prep and high schools operate from St Ann's Bay.

The major occupations in St Ann's Bay today include much clerical work, especially for the young and educated. There are many bus and taxi operators. Other major sources of employment may be accounted for in wholesale and retail businesses, market and street vending and fishing. Citizens complain, though, of a tremendous lack of employment opportunities, especially for young males.