More Than $2.5b Projected for Water Supply Upgrading and Expansion During Fiscal Year 2024/25

The Government has programmed approximately 21 water supply upgrading and expansion projects for fiscal year 2024/25, at a forecast expenditure of more than $2.5 billion.

Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering the Throne Speech during the 2024/25 Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Thursday (February 15).

He informed that 200,000 Jamaicans islandwide benefited from water improvement projects costing some $4 billion, during fiscal year 2023/24.
Pointing out that “building a resilient Jamaica requires access to potable water”, the Governor General stated that the Government has been unrelenting in its quest to increase the water footprint, with the overarching goal of achieving universal access by 2030.

Some of the major developments planned include the Rio Cobre Treatment Plant project, which will commence this year under a public-private partnership arrangement at a cost of US$77 million.

This will provide an additional 15.5 million gallons of water daily to the Kingston Metropolitan Area, upon completion, effectively ending the need for water lock-offs in the dry season in Kingston, St. Andrew and Portmore, the Governor General said.

These projects are handled by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, which also deals with roads, housing, climate change and the environment.

Providing additional details on the Ministry’s accomplishments and plans, the Governor General noted that more than 200 new homes were built islandwide under the New Social Housing Programme, which was introduced in 2018.

Some 500 units are projected to be developed during the upcoming fiscal year.

Additionally, major advances in infrastructure works are continuing, with the May Pen to Williamsfield segment of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) being opened in September 2023.

The Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge segment of the project was opened on February 6, 2024, and is ongoing.

Likewise, under the Special Capital Expenditure Programme, construction of the first road project, Grange Lane, commenced in December 2023.

“Braeton Road/Hellshire and the East King’s House Road/Lady Musgrave Road projects have completed feasibility studies and are now undergoing evaluation. The new entry to Portmore from Mandela via Municipal Boulevard, widening of Sandy Gully Bridge on Washington Boulevard, and upgrade to the Arthur Wint Drive/Tom Redcam Avenue and Camp Road will undergo Public Investment Management Systems review and commence construction in the 2024/2025 fiscal year,” the Governor-General informed.

He further pointed out that the $40-billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) programme, which intends to upgrade more than 2,000 roads islandwide over the next two years, was also launched.

Additionally, work commenced, as scheduled, on February 5, 2024, on the long-awaited Portmore Resilience Park, which was launched in January 2024.

The 2024/25 Throne Speech was delivered under the theme ‘Towards a Peaceful, Productive and Prosperous Jamaica’.