ST ANN, Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, on Friday, broke ground for the new $60 million Minard Well Replacement Project in Minard, St Ann.

The initiative aims to provide a more reliable water supply to the business community of Brown’s Town and surrounding residential areas by replacing the existing 700-foot well that experiences frequent mechanical issues.

The work is being spearheaded by the National Water Commission in collaboration with Jamaica Wells and Services Limited.

Work is expected to be undertaken over a six-month period and include the drilling of the well to approximately 800 feet, the installation of perforated casing to facilitate water inflows, and the laying of two miles of 12-inch pipes from the well to the pump station.

The new well is expected to provide two million gallons of water per day and serve a population of more than 1,500 in communities such as Brown’s Town, Huntley, Liberty Valley, York Castle, Standfast, Goshen and other areas.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Senator Samuda noted that the $60 million investment was made possible due to careful fiscal management.

“The process of getting $60 million to invest in the Minard well is a very integrated process that doesn’t just happen to appear at Minard by accident,” he said.

“It however moved up in the priority list because of the significant and heavy advocacy from your representatives and as such, through careful financial management, it has allowed the [Government’s] fiscal space to develop this well, which will be the deepest in Jamaica,” he added.

The project is part of the Government’s broader efforts to improve water supply in rural towns and support economic expansion in the region.

Samuda indicated that through a loan signed with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), approximately $500 million is to be allocated over the next three years to further develop and improve water access in rural areas.

“[Also], there are seven major rural water systems that this government will undertake with the support of the CDB and through revenue support of the National Water Commission (NWC) in major rural towns that have suffered the way Brown’s Town has suffered. This is all happening through careful project design and careful financial design,” he stated.

In the meantime, Acting Vice President of Operations at the NWC, Dr Phillipa Campbell-Francis, reiterated the entity’s commitment to facilitating business development and ensuring reliable water supply for domestic customers.

She said the NWC is also committed to the “green earth” agenda and considers factors such as health and education in its service delivery mantra.

The expected lifespan of the new well is 40 years.

-JIS