Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth

A recently completed bailey bridge at Thornton in the vicinity of Appleton Sugar Estate, close to Siloah in North East St Elizabeth, will be formally opened on Friday by Works Minister Robert Pickersgill.

The new $12-million bridge replaces one that collapsed last August forcing residents to use longer alternate routes. The old bridge had actually remained in use despite being officially condemned and closed three years ago.

Funding for the bridge was provided by the Appleton Sugar Estate and the St Elizabeth Parish Council while the government’s National Works Agency (NWA) carried out the contract.

Senator Kern Spencer, the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for North East St Elizabeth in parliamentary elections which are constitutionally due this year, told the OBSERVER WEST that the formal opening of the bridge will take place at 1:00 pm. It will be followed by a tour of the constituency and a political party meeting at Burnt Ground, just south of Santa Cruz.

Spencer will be challenged by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP’s) Corris Samuels for the NE St Elizabeth parliamentary seat. They are vying to replace outgoing member of parliament, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke who intends to contest the Central Westmoreland seat for the PNP.