Damion Mitchell and Tenesha Thomas, Gleaner Reporters
Workmen carrying out construction on a section of the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 yesterday. Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, took members of the media on a tour of the road project. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE GOVERNMENT revealed yesterday that it has finalised adjustments to the planned route for the next leg of Highway 2000.
Information Minister Burchell Whiteman disclosed that Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has signed off on proposals for the next leg of the highway, to run from Bushy Park, St. Catherine to Ocho Rios, St. Ann, instead of Williamsfield, Manchester.
"There have been modifications to the Bouygues contract arrangements," Senator Whiteman told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre. "Based on what emerged (in Cabinet on Monday), we expect Bouygues to be in Jamaica doing work on Jamaican roads over the next several months."
In a Gleaner report on Monday, Jean-Noel Foulard, project director for highway contractors Bouygues Travaux Publics, revealed that his company had started selling equipment and shutting down operations as no further proposal had been presented near the end of the Portmore leg of the project.
According to Senator Whiteman, there may have been a communication problem between Bouygues and the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), which led to Bouygues' announcement that it had started its pull-out.
NO NEED FOR ALARM
"I know the matter is being taken care of and I don't think we need to alarm the public that there has been some colossal failure of Highway 2000," Senator Whiteman said. He added that financing arrangements, through a Venezuelan loan agreement, were in place for part funding of the Highway 2000 Project, details of which the Prime Minister is expected to announce shortly.
The Information Minister's views were echoed yesterday by Dr. Wayne Reid, NROCC managing director, during a tour of the Portmore leg of Highway 2000. According to Dr. Reid, while a loan from the Venezuelan Government will assist in financing the project, several other cost-cutting measures were being implemented.
Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill also confirmed yesterday that Prime Minister Patterson is scheduled to meet with Portmore residents on Friday to discuss long-running concerns about the project.
