ST JAMES, Jamaica – More than 6,000 residents in the constituency of St James Southern are set to benefit from the $520 million Tangle River/Maroon Town water project.

Member of Parliament for the area Homer Davis, made the announcement while speaking at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) workers meeting held at Maldon Primary School, recently.

“It will be done in two phases. The first phase will be a $197 million…the total project will be $522 million,” a release quoted Davis as saying.

Upon completion, residents of Tangle River, Maldon, Summer Hill, Flamstead Gardens, Maroon Town, Garlands, German Town, Top Roper, Bottom Roper, Dundee and surrounding areas, will finally have a constant supply of water in their pipes—after several decades of limited access.

In the meantime, Davis, who is also minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister (West), also shared an update on the Shettlewood, Hanover to Montpelier water supply system, noting that work has resumed on the project.

According to Davis, a shortage of pipes had previously caused delays, but that issue has now been resolved.

Speaking during his bi-monthly social media live session on Monday, May 12, Davis said, “I’m also happy to report that the Shettlewood to Montpelier water supply project has restarted. You remember I told you some time ago that there was a shortage of pipes. The pipes are now in the island… in storage in Montpelier. The works that are now taking place [are] at the pump house and at the storage area.”

He also addressed concerns raised by motorists about the condition of the Montpelier main road, assuring them that the thoroughfare will be rehabilitated once the water infrastructure is tested.

“I must also say to the motorists, I know it’s a difficult time to traverse that thoroughfare, but the contractor and consultants have informed me that after the pressure testing of these pipelines are completed, then the roads will be reinstated and so the driving surface will be much better than what it is now,” he explained.