Jamaica advances water, housing, transport and health projects in national update

Several major public works, social programmes and policy updates were outlined in Jamaica’s June 15 government report, with projects spanning water supply, roads, housing, transport, justice and health.

In Manchester, more than 5,000 residents in greater Mandeville are expected to receive steadier water service after the commissioning of the Hopton Road to Waltham Road pipeline project last Thursday. The approximately $123-million job replaced an old asbestos cement main with three kilometres of ductile iron pipeline, aiming to cut water loss and improve supply for about 1,300 households in Hopton, Waltham, Perth, May Day and nearby areas. The work forms part of the more than $2.5-billion Greater Mandeville Water Supply System.

In St. Elizabeth, ground has also been broken for the $148-million Santa Cruz bypass mains replacement project, being carried out by the National Water Commission. Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda said the work should be finished by November.

Infrastructure works also moved forward in St. Catherine, where the Spring Village Bridge in Nightingale Grove reopened on Friday after being closed by the National Works Agency in February 2022 over safety concerns. The reconstructed bridge cost $250 million. Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness also attended a groundbreaking for 221 private-sector housing units at Wick Hall Estate in Spanish Town, a development by Altra Homes of the Ark Group on Featherbed Lane, soon to be renamed Featherbed Drive. The two- and three-bedroom homes are priced from $28 million to $36.5 million.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said parish courts have cut their overall net case backlog rate to below five per cent. He also reported that the Supreme Court has an overall case clearance rate above 80 per cent and a judgment delivery rate above 100 per cent, while the Court of Appeal continues to clear cases at a rate above 100 per cent.

In St. Thomas, the Social Development Commission launched It’s a Girl’s Thing at Paul Bogle High School to address period poverty and menstrual health education, with plans to expand to all six high schools in the parish and introduce a companion boys’ programme in November.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said public passenger fares rose by eight per cent on June 2, with another eight per cent due July 1. He also cited more than 270 new JUTC buses, stronger surveillance and arrests linked to fuel theft and ticket fraud.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said Cornwall Regional Hospital, the Western Child and Adolescent Hospital, major St. Catherine health centres and a new Spanish Town Hospital wing are among projects targeted this fiscal year, alongside a $1-billion maintenance fund and wider community health programmes.