ST MARY, Jamaica – A project aimed at protecting the coastal town of Annotto Bay in St Mary from storm surges, is scheduled to begin in June.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement during Friday’s official opening of the $258 million Port Maria Fire Station in the parish.

He said the upcoming project will be “another significant investment” in the parish.

Holness pointed out said that Annotto Bay is “a small, closely knit town that has the potential to be a tourism gem”. However, he noted that the area faces challenges such as coastal erosion and drainage issues because of its low-lying nature.

“This new project will help to solve a part of the challenge, which will be the revetment works, which will protect (Annotto Bay) from storm surges and devastating wave actions. It will also help with the drainage in the town,” the prime minister said.

He advised that the project will be facilitated under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, which is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through a loan agreement with the World Bank.

Holness also informed that a path for a bypass road for Annotto Bay has been identified and the process to facilitate the development will begin this year.