PETERSFIELD:
JUST OVER 2.6 kilometres of road have been repaired at a cost of $6.8 million in the Eastern Westmoreland constituency represented by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
The rehabilitated roads were handed over to the Westmoreland Parish Council on December 15. The first road is located at Retirement, the Whitehouse division, where 1.5 kilometres of road was repaired at a cost of $3.9 million. The other, Orange Hill, Darliston division, 1.1 kilometres was repaired at a cost of $2.9 million.
The Prime Minister speaking at Orange Hill, where he presided at the official handing over said he was pleased with the work and congratulated the workers and contractors for a job well done.
In urging the municipal authorities to maintain the roads properly, he noted that the project was part of a programme to improve infrastructure throughout the island, and was also part of Local Government Reform.
Funds for these roads he said, were obtained through a loan provided to the government from the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as funds provided by the government. The money from the Inter-American Development Bank, the PM said is delivered over a three-year period, so the entire road repair could not be done at one time, but in stages.
"We are seeking to respond to the needs of the communities in a fair manner, and even though I am the Prime Minister, and Member of Parliament for this constituency, I have to ensure that not only my constituency gets what it deserves, but there are 59 other constituencies that deserve attention, and what we have, we share," he said.
