MONTEGO BAY, St James — The National Housing Trust (NHT), through a partnership with St James Municipal Corporation (SJMC), is to spend just over $100 million to rehabilitate roadways in two housing developments in the parish.

In confirming the development, Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon told the
Jamaica Observer that one project is underway and another is set to begin shortly.

“One of the current projects is being done in Westgreen, Montego Bay, and another will commence soon in Providence. Both projects attract a price tag of $42 and $60 million, respectively, and the St James Municipal Corporation is the implementing body,” said Vernon.

He explained that the SJMC and the NHT have had a long-standing relationship regarding community and infrastructure development, but that was put in greater focus by a commitment from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to rehabilitate roads in communities built by the Government.

Vernon pointed out that in Westgreen work has already started with the top layer of a few roads removed to facilitate the re-laying of the surface.

“The scope for the Westgreen project includes road and sidewalk repairs, with complete resurfacing slated in some critical sections,” added Vernon.

The work to rehabilitate the roads in Westgreen has been welcomed by councillor for the area, Dwight Crawford (Jamaica Labour Party, Spring Garden Division).

“I think this is definitely a statement and I am thanking them for it and look forward to seeing the Westgreen community looking like how the communities in Jamaica should look,” Crawford told the
Observer.

He said this sort of support is good for these sorts of communities which seemed neglected after they were built.

“It is a very orderly way of running community spaces because in Jamaica we are used to developers building communities and then there are number of factors [which] lead to a breakdown in community spaces,” he said.

“Therefore, when you see the NHT manning, policing, and maintaining their obligations so many years after, because Westgreen was built so many years ago, and they have stepped back in to ensure that their reputation is unmarred by ensuring that they come in and do their due diligence,” added Crawford.

In the meantime Vernon said there is more to come for St James municipality as it relates to roadwork and residents can expect to see more being rolled out over the next few years.

“With the ongoing REACH [Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help] programme, the SPARK [Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network] initiative that is rolling out, the upgrades associated with the perimeter road, and the St James Municipal Parochial Revenue Fund, infrastructure commitment to each division, St James should experience significantly improved roadways within two years,” said Vernon.

“Rural communities will need attention, but I anticipate that the perimeter development will drive development to those areas, which will naturally demand improvement. The outlook is positive for the parish,” added Vernon.