An aerial view of Kingston Wharves Limited.

Over US$3 Million (J$132 million) has already been spent on expanding the berth at Kingston Wharves, according to Michael Bernard, president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica.

Mr. Bernard said on Tuesday that the work is expected to expand two of the wharf's berths by some 1,200 feet to allow them to accommodate larger vessels. Speaking to journalists during a tour of the facility with Derrick Kellier, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, he said the project has employed a number of people living in proximity to the port.

Under budget

"The majority of the workers working on this expansion are taken from the surrounding communities of Greenwich Farm and surrounding areas, and they play a tremendous part in working with the contractor in the field to help ensure expansion is on time and under budget," Mr. Bernard said.

The expansion, in tandem with other projects under the Port Expansion programme, will position Jamaica ahead of its competitors and will make it one of five transshipment ports in the hemisphere. The berthing expansion at the wharf is to be finished by June next year.

Minister Kellier said he was pleased with the expansion.

"It's something for the Jamaican people to know about. I think this is a story that needs to be told," he said. "The port really is the entrance and the exit of imports and exports to the country, and really the foresight of the organisation here is tremendous and they must be commended for what they are doing."