Roads and Community Facilities in South East St. Elizabeth repaired under JEEP

Several roadways and community infrastructure in South East St. Elizabeth have been rehabilitated under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

Member of Parliament for the area, Richard Parchment, in his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 12, expressed appreciation for the work done.

Among the roads fixed under the programme were: Nain to Southfield; Bull Savannah to Duff House; Southfield to Lovers’ Leap; Leeds to Malvern; Nain through Myersville to Santa Cruz Crossing; Junction to Dundo Hill; Junction to Ridge; Cheapside to St. Mary’s Police Station; Gazeland to Browdey; Bull Savannah to Green Dive; Robin Road; Melsham; Portsea to Carlisle; Rightway through to Seaview Exton to Ridge; and Roundhill.

Noting the quality of the work done, Mr. Parchment said that “roadway from Nain through Myersville to Santa Cruz Crossing and Leads to Malvern, where mature trees had grown on the verges, forming a canopy that was proving to be extremely hazardous to motorists… is now a beauty to behold.”

He informed that the Roundhill Road, which borders South East and South West St. Elizabeth, and serves as a main thoroughfare from Savanna-La-Mar, is being rehabilitated with a thick overlay of barber green.

Other projects under JEEP included: refurbishing of the Malvern Health Centre and MJ Whitely Arcade in Nain, which houses the public library and post office; erection of perimeter fencing of the Seaview Primary school; repairs of sidewalks at the BB Coke High School; construction of sidewalks at Mayfield Primary; and refurbishing of Red Bank Community Centre.

“All the projects outlined employed hundreds of local workers somewhat cushioning the fallout from the closure of Alpart,” Mr. Parchment informed.

JEEP was conceptualised to provide short term employment particularly for persons at the lower socio-economic level.

It is not intended to be a permanent fix to the country’s unemployment challenge but is an emergency response to assist in getting people working again.

The programme is a national initiative and was officially launched by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller on March 22, 2012 at the Standpipe community in Liguanea, St. Andrew.

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By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter