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PM Calls for Community Consultations on New Yallahs Bridge

April 13, 2007

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Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has said that residents of St. Thomas should be involved in talks about the new Yallahs bridge.
She said the residents should be properly informed in all matters relating to the construction of the bridge, which is scheduled to begin shortly.
Mrs. Simpson Miller issued the charge on April 11, at a contract signing for the new bridge at Jamaica House.
The Prime Minister explained that the consultations should take the form of town meetings with the people of the parish and that this could be carried out with the assistance of the Social Development Commission (SDC), which has a large community network.
“You are to ensure, with the assistance of the SDC, the mobilisation of a parish meeting, where you will speak to the people, consult with them, show them the design and say when the work will begin so they can plan their activities. The communities must be involved with what we are doing and they are to be informed, so there can be no misunderstanding,” she said.
The Prime Minister emphasised that no form of extortion would be tolerated and instructed the contractors to bring it to the attention of the government, should it become an issue.
The new bridge will be approximately 100 meters long and will be constructed at a cost of $402.7 million. It will replace the Yallahs fording, which was completely destroyed by hurricane in October 2003. Work will be done under Phase II of the Mabey and Johnson priority bridge programme of the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works and should be completed within two years.

Last Updated: April 13, 2007

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