By Erica James-King, Senior Staff Reporter
Prime Minister PJ Patterson (clapping at left) and State Minister for Transport Fenton Ferguson (right) scrutinise the wording on a plaque to mark a section of Segment I of the Northern Coastal Highway, which has been named in honour of former Works Minister, Allan George St. Claver Coombs (Father Coombs). - Photo By Richard Gordon
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE GOVERNMENT is taking a zero tolerance approach to its bid to prevent squatters from encroaching on the verges of the 75-kilometre long Segment One of the North Coast Highway, which spans the resort towns of Montego Bay and Negril.
Addressing the recent official opening ceremony of the highway at Point, in Hanover, the Prime Minister, who said the thoroughfare would be vigorously monitored, declared that, "Nobody is going to be allowed to go and build shacks and squat in the area of this highway."
In emphasising that squatting would not be tolerated, the Prime Minister further stated that, "We are prepared to put up at appropriate spots, some lay-bys, which will be properly designed and constructed and operated by selected persons. Nobody must squat here as this will destroy the whole beauty of the highway."
The stance by the Prime Minister already has the full backing of the Hanover Parish Council, through Lucea's Mayor, Councillor Lloyd Hill, who recently stated that the Council would have no reservation in tearing down any shacks constructed on the lands adjoining the highway.
Phase One of the highway, which is now officially finished, ended three years behind schedule and five years after ground was broken for the project. It also raked up millions of dollars in cost overruns as the final construction cost of US$72.7 million (J$3.6 million), has more than doubled the original Jamaican estimate (J$1.2 billion) and tripled the original U.S. dollar estimate (US$24.99) of the project.
Meanwhile, there are now conflicting signals coming from the authorities in regards to the status of the US$60 million Segment II of the highway, which is poised to cover 91 kilometres of roadway between St. James and St. Ann.
Contrary to last week's statement by the National Works Agency (NWA), which stated that the roadway was progressing within the expected time schedule and within budget, Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill last Saturday told journalist that the project is "slightly behind schedule."
Minister Pickersgill, who was speaking during a tour of Segment II of the project, blamed the delay on the tardiness of his Ministry in relocating utility poles and pipelines in the area, where the highway is designated to run.
"Part of our responsibility was to deal with that (relocation of poles and pipelines) and we have not been quick as we ought to have been, but we are going to remedy that as quick as possible," said Minister Pickersgill, who went on to express confidence that the project will get back on schedule soon.
