$1.7 Billion to Rehabilitate Wells, Pumping Stations and Reservoirs

A total of $1.7 billion will be spent by the Government to rehabilitate 26 well sources, pumping stations, and reservoirs across the island.

This forms part of the programmes and projects planned for the new fiscal year to provide potable water to households.

This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the Throne Speech at Gordon House, on April 3.

In the meantime, more than 300 jobs will be created under the three-year polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling project.

The initiative is being undertaken through a public-private partnership, with the Government, through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), pumping $50 million per year into the project, while the private sector will contribute $23.75 million annually over the three years.

The Governor-General noted that Jamaica has a number of environmental challenges to which greater attention will be given.

“They include the reduction of hillside erosion on farmlands and along roadways; the denudation of the country’s forests; and the disposal of sewage, garbage, and containers, including plastic bottles,” he said.

On climate change, the Governor-General said the Government will increase awareness in the public sector and wider society; generate information on adaptation and mitigation strategies, policies and plan; coordinate and facilitate Jamaica’s strategic and unified position in regional and global negotiations; and develop technical expertise within the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.

The Throne Speech, titled ‘Going for Growth: Creating Opportunities’, outlined the priority programmes and policies to be pursued by the Government during the new fiscal year, which started on April 1.