$78 Million Spent on Road Projects in West St. Mary

Some $78 million has been spent on major infrastructure development projects in the constituency of western St. Mary.

This was disclosed by Member of Parliament for the area, Jolyan Silvera, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate on June 18, in the House of Representatives.

He said the works are being executed by the National Works Agency under the direction of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing. Under the programme, two new bridges have been constructed in the communities of Jack’s River and Fontabell, while road rehabilitation and gabion works continue in sections of the constituency.

In the meantime, Mr. Silvera informed that a further investment of some $19 million will go towards the rehabilitation of the Coloraine Housing Scheme in the parish.

The works will include the reconstruction of roadways and repair of the drainage system. “The (scheme) was constructed in 1972 by the Ministry of Housing and never received rehabilitative works (until now),” he pointed out.

Other major programmes within the constituency include the establishment of a $3.2 million bee project, which has benefited some 20 persons through the provision of training, bee hives and other equipment.

Additionally, more than $5 million has been spent to assist some 400 students with subsidies on school fees and textbooks.

Mr. Silvera also informed that funding from the Jamaica Emergency Employment Project (JEEP) was used to rehabilitate community centres in the districts of Three Hills, Charles Town and Mango Valley.

Contact: Athaliah Reynolds-Baker