BUCHANAN

The Government on Monday approved several contracts worth in excess of $1 billion to improve sewerage and water supply systems in the Corporate Area and some rural parishes.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Information and Development Minister Donald Buchanan said that several hundred jobs are to be created from the projects.

The largest is to take place within the Kingston Metropolitan Region, where more than $541 million will be spent on improving general water supply in Spanish Town and sections of Portmore, St. Catherine. The project is being partly funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

"It has been a long time coming. I myself recall as the minister with responsibility in a different light announced it several times. This now is the fruition of that work," Buchanan told journalists, insisting that the work was not part of any 'election goodies'.

Other developments to be undertaken will include a $21 million project to improve sewerage systems in Hopefield, St. Andrew, and a $17 million project to improve water supply in Mammee Bay, St. Ann.