Work to Get Underway on Portmore Sewage Project

Work is expected to begin on the Portmore Sewage Project, following approval by Cabinet of a contract valued at approximately US$21 million to Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Limited.

Speaking at a Jamaica House media briefing on October 9, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, informed that the project is expected to benefit the approximately 95 percent of Portmore residents, who are connected to the National Water Commission’s (NWC) sewage infrastructure.

“The contract is for 45 months and is funded from the National Water Commission’s K-factor stream of funds,” she said.

The Minister informed that key works under the project will include: construction of facilities to transfer sewage discharged into each of the existing five sewage treatment plants at Independence City, Bridgeport, Hamilton Gardens, Portmore Villas, and Caymanas Gardens, to Soapberry;  provision of a standby generator at each pump station; construction of an administration building to operate and monitor the key operations; de-commissioning of the five existing sewage treatment plants, which are in advanced state of disrepair; and restoration of each site to acceptable condition.

Minister Falconer also announced Cabinet’s approval of a contract to Illuminat Jamaica, valuing just under US$690,000, for the supply of 180 interactive whiteboards for schools in the E-Learning Project. The contract is for six months.

She noted that the interactive white board technology is used to enhance classroom lesson presentation by making them more engaging.

“The contract is for the delivery and installation of the boards, as well as the training of teachers in the use and care of the fixed electronic whiteboard system,” the Minister informed.

She explained that the E-Learning project operates in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and targets students at the secondary level, providing them with applications and processes of an electronic nature to improve their performance in external examinations.

The project is funded through the Universal Service Fund.