Northern Jamaica project gets $1.5 billion boost

JIS:

The Northern Jamaica Development Project is to receive $1.5 billion to continue improvement to infrastructure in tourism centres on the island's northern coast.

As set out in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the allocation will be used to continue payments for lands acquired for the Negril to Montego Bay segment, as well as payments for lands acquired for Montego Bay to Greenside. Contractors are also to be paid from the sum, and payments are to continue for lands acquired under segment three of the project, which spans Ocho Rios to Port Antonio.

Up to March 2010, a number of targets were met, including: construction of road surfaces; ongoing payments for land acquired; (Segment 2A): legal acquisition of land (98 per cent complete); relocation of all utility poles; resettlement of all project-affected persons; completion of civil works contracts. For the Greenside to Ocho Rios segment, the Jamaica Public Service Company and Cable and Wireless poles at sections two, three and four were relocated, while the pilot road-maintenance programme was completed and the highway completed and opened to traffic. An environmental plan was also completed.

Meanwhile, for the Ocho Rios to Fair Prospect leg, all utility poles have been relocated, as well as all the necessary lands acquired; the 750 affected persons relocated; and the civil works contract completed.