Chester Castle Residents Get Improved Roadway

Residents of Land Top District in Chester Castle, Eastern Hanover are now enjoying improved road conditions.

This, after rehabilitation of the 1.8-kilometre road, which serves the community at a cost of $4 million. The improvement work was carried out under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

At the official opening on Friday, July 10, State Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Richard Azan, congratulated all the stakeholders, who contributed to the smooth implementation of the project, which was completed on time and within budget.

“I want to pay tribute to the contractor, but I also want to pay tribute to the community members who participated in the project, because the road belongs to you. It doesn’t belong to the Mayor or the Member of Parliament. It is your community, it is your road,” he noted.

Mr. Azan expressed satisfaction with the quality of work that was done with the limited funds. “If you get such a small amount of money and you have done so much with it that means the money was well spent,” he said.

He informed that despite financial constraints, additional funds will soon be allocated for additional road improvement work throughout the area.

Minister Azan called on the citizens to play their part in maintaining the roadway.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you have a responsibility… you can’t throw garbage into the drain and block the drain and then you turn around and you say the road was never done properly. We have a responsibility…to keep our roads clear of all the garbage,” he pointed out.

The State Minister also toured other JEEP projects in Hanover including work underway at the Green Island Post Office, and the Mount Peto road, which was completed at a cost of $10 million.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the 5.6 kilometres of roadway, which serves more than 2,000 residents.