WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has revealed that environmental issues have delayed the government’s plan to create a bypass road for the current Norman Manley Boulevard that runs through Negril.

The bypass road was among several already known plans reiterated by Holness for Negril and Hanover.

Holness noted that while he does not want to get into an argument over the environmental issues, the government remains committed to having the issues addressed so that the road can be created inland.

“The challenge we have had, why we haven’t advanced so much, is that there are some environmental concerns that we are still trying to resolve,” he stated.

Holness was addressing a fund-raising banquet for the ruling Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) standard bearer for the Westmoreland Western constituency, Garfield James. The activity which followed a tour of the constituency was held at the Couples Swept Away Resort in Negril on Saturday night.

In 2022, stakeholders were informed of a development proposal to change the layout of Negril which includes the creation of a bypass road.

Holness argued on the weekend that peats and swamps are encountered in the area.

“So, we have to figure that out… I don’t want to get into an argument about the environmental issues just yet, but we are trying to figure out the best alignment that would avoid the environmental assets that we have because they are important,” stated Holness in a brief remark.

However, Project Director for the Negril Coral Reefs Preservation Society (NCPS) Lenbert Williams told the Jamaica Observer that he does not predict any significant environmental problems in having the road constructed.

“I do not foresee any serious environmental disaster. So, I want the prime minister to expedite this as soon as possible because as we speak, the driving experience through Negril is a total disaster,” argued Williams.

Williams spoke about the experiences faced by motorists on the boulevard.

“These sleeping police, all they do is mash up people’s vehicles and people who are not aware of them, when they slow down, oftentimes people rear-end them by slamming into their backs. So, I don’t think that they are serving their intended purposes and I believe that, if we can’t remove them, give us the alternate road,” added Williams.

For her part, environmentalist and hotelier, Sophia Grizzle Roumel told the Observer Online that while she agrees with the relocation of the boulevard, there is a road between Green Island in Hanover and Sheffield in Westmoreland that can be used as an alternative route to bypass Negril, for now. That road runs further inland from the morass.

“There is a road behind, especially with the (international] airport coming [in Little London], have it fixed so that people going to Green Island and Lucea will be able to use that without congesting the Negril road. And, I fully agree that over time we need to move all of our roads inland. So, I agree with the prime minister,” stated Grizzle Roumel.

James on the other hand told the Observer Online that with the environmental concerns, the matter must be examined carefully so that there is a balance.

“If we are really serious about the long-term management of the Norman Manley Boulevard space, we really need to create another main road to take that through traffic,” reasoned James.

Meanwhile, Holness during his presentation, spoke about the bypass roads for Hopewell and Lucea that will be tied into the Long Hill bypass in St James and complement the Negril road that will assist in alleviating the traffic congestion.

He also spoke about the recently launched $67.5-billion Western Resilience Water Project aimed at improving the water system in the northwestern parishes of Jamaica — Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

A new urban centre for Negril to be developed in the area was also mentioned and the creation of a beach and nature parks. The planned  international airport in Little London was also mentioned.