Long delays over the Mother Fleur River Project

By Byron McDaniel, Freelance Writer

Shaw

ON JUNE 23, 1999 a contract worth $4.7 million was signed at Craighead in Manchester between the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and Alpha Construction Company for the Mother Fleur River Project. Residents were promised "portable piped water" before Christmas that year ­ using a mechanical pump system known as RAM. Two years later the JSIF is expressing regret over the delay in implementation due to a change in design from mechanical to electrical pump.

Managing Director of Alpha Construction Mr. George Hosang told The Gleaner recently that all aspects of work in his contract were completed, tested and found satisfactory. The installation of the RAM pump was the work of another entity and the sum of $300,000 was withdrawn from the contract budget for that. The system was not feasible as design and he had detected technical weaknesses which he pointed out to the technical team of the JSIF on several occasions he said.

Regret and disappointment

On Wednesday, July 18, Managing Director of JSIF, Mrs. Scarlette Gillings visited Craighead and met with Member of Parliament Mr. Audley Shaw and the Councillor of the Division. She expressed regret and disappointment over the long delay in the project and assured them that change from mechanical to electrical system would be expedited so as to complete the project.

Communications officer of the JSIF Ms. Donna Marie Wallace in a telephone interview said that parts for the changed system had to be imported. The work however should be ready between August to September. The electrical contractor will be "Westech Engineers". Miss Wallace was unable to say how much or if any money was lost on the failed system.

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