DAVIS PEN, Trelawny — Ground was broken Friday for a $67-billion Western Resilience Water Project which spans Jamaica’s northwestern corridor, covering major towns and cities such as Savanna-la-Mar, Negril, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Runaway Bay, St Ann’s Bay, and Ocho Rios, along with several smaller communities.

This region is the heart of Jamaica’s tourism industry and a vital hub for residential and commercial development, making it critical to the national economy.

“We will bring water to your district. We will bring water to your community. You will be able to stand in your brand new bathroom that you have built with your soaking tub and all the other modern amenities and have flowing potable water in your home. This is something that this Administration is committed to, not just by words, but by allocation, by running your economy well. By using your tax dollars well and wisely we will put in place the systems to be able to deliver the benefit that you want,” Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said in his keynote address.

“It is not, however, going to happen before the next election, as some people would want you to believe. What we are certain of is that we have put in place systems,” he added.

The general elections are constitutionally due by this September.

The areas that will benefit from the project are now served by five main water treatment plants – Roaring River, Logwood, Great River, Martha Brae, and Bogue – supported by a limited network of smaller facilities. Although these systems are interconnected by major transmission mains, they suffer from aging infrastructure and diminished capacity. The Western Resilience Water Project is expected to provide a reliable and expanded water supply and guard against future disruptions.

Friday’s ground breaking ceremony was held on the Davis Pen football field in Trelawny.