Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced a raft of projects during a tour of Western St Mary with Member of Parliament Robert Montague.
In describing the occasion as 鈥渁 good day for the people of Western St Mary鈥, Montague said many of the projects were aimed at addressing the poor water infrastructure in the constituency. He said the projects had to go through the planning, design, and approval stages and were now ready for implementation.
The projects include a $250-million plan to supply one million gallons of water from Rio Magna to the Guys Hill treatment plant to serve residents of Jeffrey Town, Decoy, Top Road, Waterford, Hartlands, and Maiden Hall. This project became necessary as two of the sources that supplied the Guys Hill treatment plant have dried up.
There was also the launch of the $50-million solar pump and water treatment facility for Falling Spring in Springfield, to remove the communities of Springfield, Border Hill, and Windsor Castle, from the Guys Hill system.
鈥淕ayle and surrounding communities have a $120-million project, of which $48 million has already been spent to dig two wells in New Pen; the wells are producing 2,000 gallons of water per minute,鈥 Montague said.
鈥淎 storage tank, relocation of the re-lift pump and connections to the Bathouse network as well as the four-inch main through Saltrum, will see additional water coming in Gayle, Arcadia, Saltrum, Labrynth Road, Hyatt Hill, Coombs Town and Lucky Hill.
鈥淥ver in Industry Pen, work has started on the construction of a 400,000-gallon tank, and the pump is to be upgraded and a new water pipeline installed.鈥
The prime minister also unveiled the sign for the Boscobel Integrated Business Centre, which will be built by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica on 30 acres of airport lands. The centre will provide 150,000 square feet of space, providing investment and job opportunities.
Plans were also announced to build a new primary school at Jeffrey Town, and provide several classroom blocks, auditorium and other facilities at the Oracabessa Primary School.
鈥淲e are moving to correct the shortcomings of others and building for a better future for you , your family and your community,鈥 Montague said.
Meanwhile, Montague told The Gleaner that construction of the new clinic for Oxford and Free Hill is almost done.
鈥淢oving from an old teachers鈥 cottage to the most modern clinic in St Mary, the final touches are being applied,鈥 Montague disclosed.
鈥淚n a very short time the people of Free Hill, Oxford, Geddes Town, Crescent, Fontebelle and surrounding communities, will have a brand new clinic, with expanded services. We started this building a little over one year ago and we are on the final journey,鈥 he added.
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