JEEP Projects Being Implemented in Clarendon

State Minister for Transport, Works, and Housing, Hon. Richard Azan, has expressed satisfaction with work carried out, thus far, on three community facilities in Clarendon under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), at a cost of just over $23 million.

He indicated this while speaking with journalists at the Lionel Town post office in South East Clarendon, following a tour of that and two other facilities at Kellits and Pennants in North and North Central Clarendon, respectively, on Friday (February 27,) to view the progress of works being done.

The State Minister was accompanied by technocrats and other officials from the Transport, Works, and Housing Ministry; the JEEP Secretariat; and project implementing entity, the National Works Agency (NWA).

The projects, which commenced in 2013 under JEEP’s third phase and continued under the fourth, entail significant renovations and refurbishing at the Kellits Skills Training Centre; Pennants community centre, post office, and clinic; and Lionel Town post office.

The overall scope of work at the Kellits centre entails: re-roofing, refurbishing of the sanitary conveniences, painting, and erection of perimeter fencing.

Activities at the Pennants facilities include: re-roofing and upgrading of the plumbing and sanitary conveniences, while work at the Lionel Town post office entails roofing, installation of windows and doors, and painting.

A JEEP progress report advises that works at Kellits and Lionel Town are “90 per cent completed”, and those at Pennants, “substantially completed.”

These engagements are being financed under the PetroCaribe Fund’s $110 million Special Community Facilities Project, which target an overall 21 projects for implementation under JEEP, islandwide.

In providing the update on the Clarendon projects, Mr. Azan, while acknowledging that implementation was “a little slow” due to exigencies arising, he, nonetheless, indicated that “we are satisfied with the work that has been completed, so far.”

“We are hoping that…the Kellits project will be completed by the end of March. The Pennants (project) is almost completed, and we hope to wrap up that one by next week,” the State Minister said.

In the case of the Lionel Town post office, Mr. Azan indicated that additional funds will be sought to complete the remaining work, adding “we…hope…that (this can be done) in the new financial year.”

South East Clarendon Member of Parliament, Rudyard Spencer, who viewed works at the Lionel Town post office with Mr. Azan, while also voicing concern that works had not concluded, nonetheless, indicated that “I (too) am pleased with the work (done), so far.”

Meanwhile Mr. Azan advised that the team also visited the Pennants Basic School on Friday, which he said is being earmarked for assistance under JEEP to replace the existing pit latrine bathroom facilities.

“We have taken the decision to see how best we can work with the school to have a proper flush (toilet) system (installed). We are going to try to see what we are able to do under the next phase (five) of JEEP,” he informed.

JEEP’s Project Manager, Rose Maitland, advised that over 16 of the 21 projects earmarked projects under the PetroCaribe Special Community Facilities Project have been completed.

She said over 1,500 persons have been employed on the projects, with the three visited in Clarendon, employing approximately 150 persons, and advised that “we are just about in the last phase of the (special community facilities) projects.”

Brainchild of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, which was launched by in 2012, is one of the Government’s strategies to address unemployment, particularly among Jamaicans in the lower socio-economic groups, as well as persons with special needs, low skill levels, and those from under-served communities.

The Programme is not intended to be a permanent fix to the country’s unemployment challenges, but rather to assist in getting people working again.

Skills gained during the programme can be transferred to other areas as some persons who will be employed, will have the opportunity of obtaining training through the HEART Trust/NTA.

JEEP’s implementation is consistent with the administration’s strategic priorities focusing on Job Creation and Economic Growth, and Human Capital Development.