JDIP launched in St. Mary

A number of roads in St. Mary will be rehabilitated under Government’s largest ever road improvement initiative, the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).
The St. Mary leg of the programme was launched Wednesday (September 22) in Eden Park, Jacks River, St. Mary.
The extensive road repair project is being funded by the Governments of Jamaica and China, at a cost of US$400 million (J$36 billion). It will target the rehabilitation of major and parochial roads, bridges and walls and the periodic maintenance of road infrastructure.

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry, addressing the launch of the St. Mary leg of Government’s largest ever road project, the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). The function was held at the Eden Park Sports Complex, Jacks River, St. Mary on Wednesday (September 22).

Among the roads to be rehabilitated under JDIP in the parish are those from Derry to Hazard, Free Hill to Geddes Town, and Grandy Hole to Rock River to Richmond, among others.
The Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry, commended Prime Minister Bruce Golding, and Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, for making it a reality. He said that quality will be emphasized and geo-technical studies of each parish will be done.
“You cannot build roads across Jamaica, if you do not know the geo-technical structure of the parish you are dealing with”, he said, explaining that each parish’s road structure was different.
The Minister said that, under the programme, Government was examining the use of red mud as an alternative product. He said this has passed the studies of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), but will be tested for its environmental impact, to ensure it can be acceptable to the communities at large.

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry (right), Minister of State for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Member of Parliament for Western St. Mary, Hon Robert Montague (centre), and Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency, Patrick Wong (left), having a discussion at the launch of the St. Mary leg of Government’s largest ever road improvement project, the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), at the Eden Park Sports Complex in Jacks River, St. Mary on Wednesday (September 22).

Mr. Henry added that, as part of the agreement between the Government of Jamaica and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), general contractors for the project, was the establishing of one of the “highest quality lab in the world”, where testing will be done to determine the amount of material, such as marl or asphalt, that is being used in a mixture.
He also thanked the Peoples Republic of China for their role in the programme, and expressed confidence that CHEC will ensure that quality is maintained.
Minister of State with responsible for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Hon. Robert Montague said the project was the “largest investment in the parochial roads network”, and called on everyone to work together in partnership under the programme.
Also speaking at the launch was Minister with responsibility for Information and Telecommunications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, congratulated Ministers Henry and Montague, as well as the National Works Agency (NWA), for their role in the initiative.
According to Mr. Vaz, the programme is a “revolutionary one, and could not have come at a better time”.
He appealed to everyone to support the JDIP, adding that “this is one of the best programmes that has happened to the Jamaican people”.
Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Dr. Morais Guy, Member of Parliament for South-east St. Mary, Mr. Tarn Peralto, and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary brought greetings.