Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Five parishes have been selected as the pilot parishes under the National Road Services Improvement Programme (NARSIP), according to Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works.

The programme will see all main roads in Westmoreland, Portland, St. Thomas, Manchester and St. Catherine being rehabilitated and maintained at a cost of more than $1 billion.

"Under this new programme the normal routine maintenance activates would take place, however greater emphasis will be placed on performance" he said. "Another important feature is the attention to be given to all road sections, for which the contractor has responsibility, being free of pothole during the life of the contract."

Contract life extended

Mr. Pickersgill further said that the life of a contract has been extended from three months to three years and that, in the event of non-compliance, penalties would be imposed.

Minister Pickersgill was speaking at the Special Flood Damage Rehabilitation Programme contract signing ceremony, held at the Bickersteth Community Centre in St. James on Saturday.

D.R. Foote Construction Company Limited was awarded the contract to rehabilitate the Orange Hill and the Tollgate to Bushmouth main road in Westmoreland, at a cost of $15 million, with a 90-day completion deadline. Surrey Paving and Aggregates Limited was awarded the contract to rehabilitate the Montpelier to Cambridge main road.