MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell says that plans are still in place for the first phase of employment to start this summer at the Information Communication Technology (ICT) facility being developed on Ward Avenue in Mandeville. Paulwell was responding to questions from the Jamaica Observer Central on Wednesday regarding speculations that there were problems with investors in the project that could impact the arrangements going forward.

Construction firm Black Brothers, which owns the building, Kingstonbased construction giant Tankweld and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) have been identified as the main investors in the project, which is providing 70,000 square feet of ICT space.

The United States-based Sutherland Global Services, which already operates ICT services at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies and elsewhere in Jamaica, has been selected as the organisation to manage the Ward Avenue facility.

Paulwell said that the concerns could have stemmed from the length of time that it took the lease agreement to be settled with Sutherland Global.

“I am not aware of any problems now,” the technology minister said. “The company (Sutherland Global) that is going to be leasing the facility, they have reported to me that in a matter of weeks they will be able to take full possession. I think there were protracted negotiations for the lease but I gather that all the terms are now settled,” he added.

Paulwell said that he expects that the first phase of recruitment should start “sometime before the end of the summer”.

The minister was in Mandeville for the Manchester leg of the People’s National Party’s ‘Face2Face’ Series of town hall consultations that have been taking place across the island.

Other presenters at the event were Mandeville Mayor Brenda Ramsay, Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, Minister of Transport Works and Housing Dr Omar Davis, Minister of Water Land Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill and his Junior Minister Ian Hayles.

During his presentation, Paulwell urged young people in the parish to be prepared through the requisite training to take up the opportunities that will become available at the ICT facility because it is “world-class” services that will be delivered.

ICT is being touted as a major industry to provide employment in central Jamaica even as efforts continue to revitalise the bauxite/alumina sector, which was a major investor in the area for many years.