$2.6 Billion for Northern Jamaica Development Project

The Northern Jamaica Development Project has been allocated $2.6 billion, according to the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
According to the Estimates, the project seeks to improve infrastructure in tourism centres, on the northern coast of Jamaica.
Physical achievements up to March 2008 included 100 per cent construction of road surface in Negril and Montego Bay (Segment 1), with payment of land acquisition on-going. In Segment 2A, section 1 (Montego Bay to Greenside), legal acquisition of land 98 per cent completed, with relocation of all utility poles 100 per cent completed.
For Segment 2, which includes Greenside to Ocho Rios, the resettlement of all project-affected persons has been completed and the construction of the highway completed and opened to traffic (69.7km). Segment 3, which includes Ocho Rios to Fair Prospect, has seen 100 per cent relocation of utility poles; resettlement of 570 project affected persons completed, and civil works 50 per cent completed.
Anticipated physical targets for the 2008/09 fiscal year include: complete payment of land acquisition, inclusive of the related consultancy services under Segment 1 of the project. Also under Segment 2, section 1 (from Montego Bay to Greenside), the project seeks to commence implementation of the environmental mitigation plan and to provide payments for land acquisition, inclusive of final payments.
Under Segment 2A, the project seeks to provide payment for supervisory consultancy and outstanding amounts, and it also seeks to complete all outstanding civil works.
The project is funded by the Government, the Caribbean Development Bank, the European Union, and the Inter American Development Bank.