Lighting of Elegant Corridor Going Well

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said work on the installation of energy-saving street lights along Montego Bay’s “elegant corridor” is proceeding well and the project should be completed by the middle of this year.

The eight-month project, being financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at a cost of $248 million, entails the installation of energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lamps along a segment of the North Coast Highway from the Sangster International Airport roundabout to Iberostar Hotel at Lilliput.

Addressing a special press conference held on Thursday (February 5), at the Office of the Prime Minister in Montego Bay, Minister McNeill informed that the lights are being installed in segments and the intention is to have them in place by May.

“At present, trenches are being dug, the cables are being laid and the base fillers for the light poles are being installed in the median of the roadway from Sea Castle (resort) to Sugar Mill. Work will begin shortly on the eastern side of the thoroughfare from Sea Castle to Lilliput,” Minister McNeill informed.

He said the project will benefit all stakeholders along the thoroughfare, including communities such as Lilliput, Flanker, Barrett Town and Providence, as well as the hotels and other businesses.

Meanwhile, Minister McNeill is hailing as a success, a tourism industry stakeholders’ consultation, which took place at the Half Moon hotel earlier in the day.

He said the discussion session centred on the development of sections of downtown Montego Bay and was attended by a wide cross section of players in the industry.

“We had discussion with the community including members of the Resort Board, about the projects that we will be undertaking here in Montego Bay…it was a very fruitful discussion. Out of it, we are looking specifically at…some of the areas from (Montego) Freeport right across town into Dump Up Beach and the Hip Strip, as well as a number of other projects,” he informed.

He said the hope is for some of the projects to be undertaken during the 2015/2016 financial year.