$24.8 Billion Water Resilience Programme for Western Jamaica

The Government has announced a $24.8 billion Western Water Resilience Programme, which will address the ongoing drought conditions being experienced by residents and businesses in the western end of the island.

Making the announcement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 28), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the undertaking is intended to build resilience in the region.

“The Cabinet has approved a design and build contract with Vinci Construction Grands Projets for the start of the Western Water Resilience Programme. This project will see the installation and replacement of two transmission mains…from the Martha Brae Water Treatment Plant in Trelawny to the terminal reservoir in St. James, and the Great River Water Treatment plant in St. James to Negril in Westmoreland,” he informed.

He said that the pre-engineering phase of the project has commenced at a cost of $32 million and is expected to last six weeks.

“During that period, the National Water Commission (NWC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, will complete the necessary technical and administrative work to facilitate the deployment of US$160 million, that is $24.8 billion for the installation and replacement of these two pipelines,” the Prime Minister said.

“That is more than what we are spending on the municipal corridor component of the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) programme, which is $20 billion island-wide,” the Prime Minister told the House.

He said the investment, which will be done through emergency procurement, is aimed at making a meaningful and transformational change in the lives of residents in western Jamaica.

“I hear the people of Negril; I hear their complaints… So, what I am announcing here today is meaningful and transformational,” he noted.

The Prime Minister pointed out that short and medium-term responses have also been implemented to improve the supply of water in the western section of the island.

These include trucking, addressing leaks, installation of new pumps and standby electricity supply to prevent disruption, as well as the decalcification of pipes.

The Prime Minister commended the people of Negril and western Jamaica for their patience and understanding.

“The Government is working. We have put this through the emergency procurement process and we will start. You will see an improvement in the quality of your water and in the resilience and uptime of the supply,” he said.

Leader of Opposition, Mark Golding said the Opposition is supportive of the efforts to address the water issues.