Minister with responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Robert Nesta Morgan, says the Government of Jamaica, through the National Works Agency (NWA), is fully prepared for the potential impact of Hurricane Beryl.

Minister Morgan seeks to reassure Jamaicans that the NWA has ramped up its drain-cleaning activities and is in constant communication with key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated response.

Minister Morgan’s statement comes against the backdrop of what he describes as misguided calls by the Opposition for the release of funds for drain cleaning.

He states that in June, all constituencies were granted allocations for drain cleaning in preparation for the hurricane season, with over $100 million provided for this purpose.

He adds that MEGJC is taking all necessary steps through the NWA to prepare for Hurricane Beryl, with preparations well underway to mitigate the risks posed by the storm. Cleaning operations are prioritized and will be completed as swiftly as possible, with many exercises already commenced or scheduled to begin this afternoon.

To this end, the NWA has deployed equipment and initiated clearance exercises across several key locations to ensure better hydraulic flow in the event of heavy rainfall. This includes areas such as Wickie-Wackie and the lower section of the Sandy Gully in St. Andrew; the North Gully and the South Gully in St. James; Danvers Pen in St. Thomas; and historically flood-prone areas in Portmore, St. Catherine.

Additionally, Minister Morgan states that key partners in the NWA’s disaster response mechanism, including contractors and equipment owners, have been engaged to ensure readiness to respond at a moment’s notice. Specific instructions have also been given to contractors on active major projects to monitor and address potential impacts.

–30–

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says Jamaica is living Climate Change.

Speaking yesterday, (June 13, 2024) at a Public Lecture on Loss and Damage at the University of the West Indies Mona, Minister Samuda said Climate Change impacts are affecting every part of our lives and every sector in our economy, especially since 70 percent of our population lives within five kilometres of the sea in low lying areas.

“When you live that close to the sea in low lying areas, land loss is an issue. When so much of your economy depends on foreign exchange earned from tourism which sells “Sun, Sand and Sea”, losing your beaches is an issue. When you have saltwater intrusion and deteriorating soil quality affecting the output of your farmers, it’s an issue, and that is our lived experience in Jamaica”, the Minister emphasized.

He noted that when climate change is discussed, people in the developed world often think of the effects as a Category 5 hurricane, or devastating fires similar to that occurring in British Columbia last year.   He added, however, that it is the slow onset events that have debilitating effects on managing the economy and keeping the society together.

“We’re seeing the awful effects of our slow onset events.  It is the drought that we had last year which is hard to (capture on) film. It’s not something you can capture theatrically. But when you have the sort of droughts and long dry periods that we are now experiencing in Jamaica, you understand it in a real way. You see that impact when you have further learning loss because a school can’t be opened as it doesn’t have water”, the Minister explained.

Minister Samuda highlighted the need to understand the science behind climate change, and to explain the science to citizens, as otherwise, it would be difficult to justify development plans that are more expensive and slower.

“Adaptation plans have to contemplate citizens at the centre of these plans and have to contemplate making investments that, to make them climate resilient, are way more expensive than some of the infrastructure that we have built in the past. These are tough discussions”, the Minister noted.

Minister Samuda said he therefore welcomed the role that the University of the West Indies, Jamaica’s Multi-lateral Partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) are playing, in bringing the discussions to the table and ‘laying the wicket” for politicians to have the necessary economic talks on these issues.

The Loss and Damage Workshops and Public Lecture were held under the theme “The Urgent Need for Climate Change Attribution Science”.

Detection and Attribution Science, is aimed at identifying changes in climate which are outside of the natural range and determining the cause of these unnatural changes.   This, in turn, will serve to inform the true value of Loss and Damage due to climate change.

–30–

The process of the implementation of the Government’s multi-billion-dollar road rehabilitation project has moved closer. Five companies have been shortlisted to bid on the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) project.

Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan made that announcement today (June 12). He explained that the National Works Agency (NWA), which is the Government’s lead entity under the project recently completed the pre-qualification stage of the International Competitive Bidding process.

He says eight companies, including two construction entities from Jamaica responded to the bid. The five companies that have been pre-qualified are:

• Sinohydro Corporation Limited, China
• Municipal Enterprises Limited, Canada
• Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure Limited, UK
• China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, China
• VINCI Construction Grands Projects, France

The Government intends to implement the works island-wide through four packages. The packages will include both main and community roads.

Minister Morgan says that the Government is now turning its attention to requesting bids from the pre-qualified contractors. These proposals are to be returned by the middle of August.

Following the submission of these proposals, a contract for the works to the successful firm should be approved by the Cabinet by the end of September.

Minister Morgan says that though it is expected that an international company will be the successful bidder, a local company will be involved in the execution of the plans for the works. The successful bidder, as per the arrangement under the project, must include a local company in the implementation.

In the meantime, the NWA has continued to collaborate with other government departments and agencies in staging consultative meetings across the country.
The meetings are being led by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). To date, meetings have been held in 21 constituencies.
–30–

Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, is emphasizing the critical role of local contractors in the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

During a meeting with stakeholders of the programme at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation on June 4, 2024, Minister Morgan gave the assurance that local contractors are integral to the project.

He asserted that claims that they are being sidelined in favour of overseas contractors are unequivocally false.

“The Government values and relies on the essential involvement of local contractors for the successful execution of the SPARK project. We remain committed to fostering local expertise while benefiting from international collaboration”, the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan added that the procurement process for the four packages under the SPARK project adheres to the International Competitive Bid (ICB) framework.

“The pre-qualification stage has been successfully completed and we are now moving to the Bid-Proposal stage. Pre-qualified contractors will be invited to submit their tenders”, the Minister stated.

He further noted that all international contractors participating in this process are mandated to have local partners, aligning with global best practices.

The Minister outlined the roles of the local contractors, noting that they would be required to assist in competitive bid proposal preparation; provide logistics support for sourcing materials, labour, and equipment; and facilitate set-up and mobilization for efficient project execution.

He explained that most local partners will be engaged through subcontracting arrangements with international contractors, which are factored into bid pricing.

Minister Morgan noted that upon acceptance of bid proposals, international contractors will include the agreements with local subcontractors in their detailed work plans, thereby maintaining the quality and integrity of the programme.

 

–30–

This is a joint press release from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica

The Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, and members of the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) convened an inaugural meeting yesterday (June 4, 2024) to discuss the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement (SPARK) Programme.

Minister Morgan assured the IMAJ that “the Government has no intention of excluding local contractors from the SPARK or any other programmes. The Government rather looks forward to the inclusion of local contractors through active collaboration.”

During the meeting, members of the IMAJ outlined their proposals and concerns on how to improve the programme and increase local participation.

Mr. Richard Mullings, President of the IMAJ, expressed his appreciation for the meeting and stated, “We are pleased with the Government’s commitment to inclusivity. This dialogue is a significant step towards ensuring that local contractors play a vital role in the SPARK Programme. We look forward to working collaboratively to achieve our shared goals.”

The Government and the IMAJ agreed to engage in consultations on the SPARK Programme going forward, and the IMAJ pledged to formally share their recommendations on various processes, including implementation.

In concluding the meeting, there was a commitment to open dialogue. Minister Morgan noted that this was the first of many meetings and emphasized his commitment to engaging the works sector in more consultations to address emerging and longstanding issues. The IMAJ expressed its optimism that such consultations would provide clarification to its membership on how to better access project opportunities and improve collaboration with the public sector; all with the intention of raising the level of service provided to the Jamaican public.

The SPARK Programme seeks to rehabilitate hundreds of the island’s roadways over two years and will be administered by the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation (MEGJC), Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS), Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (MLGCD), and the National Works Agency (NWA).

Participating in the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Arlene Williams; Mr. E.G. Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency; Mr. Varden Downer, Senior Director of Project Implementation at the National Works Agency; Mr. Richard Mullings, President of IMAJ; Mr. Paul Williams, 2nd Vice President of IMAJ; and representatives of YP Seaton & Associates Company Limited, Alcar Construction & Haulage Company Limited, Build-Rite Construction Company Limited, Smiths Asphalt & Aggregate Limited, S&G Road Surfacing Materials Limited, Construction Solutions Limited and Asphaltic Concrete Enterprise Limited.

–30–

The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is advancing its efforts to safeguard human health and the environment with the implementation of the 4th phase of the ban on specific types of single-use plastic products. This policy target remains paramount.

The Government has however acknowledged concerns from stakeholders and decided to extend the implementation period by an additional month, to fine-tune administrative arrangements, facilitate further stakeholder engagement, and ramp up additional public education.

Sen. the Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, in addressing the extended implementation time, has made the point that “this additional one-month period will cause very little trade disruptions, but will enhance market readiness for the necessary changes”.

He went on to state that “Jamaica is progressing in line with implementing the measures that have proven to reduce Plastic waste, but in a manner that creates the least inflationary impact and trade disruptions”.

This phase targets single-use plastic food containers and microplastics in cosmetic and personal care products, marking a significant step towards regulating plastics from manufacture to disposal.

Effective July 1, 2024, the importation, distribution, sale, or use of any single-use plastic food container made wholly or in part of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid (PLA) will be prohibited. This ban, however, excludes related transparent plastic lids until environmentally friendly alternatives become available. Additionally, existing stock imported before this date will be exempt.

Effective July 1, 2025, the ban will extend to personal care and cosmetic products containing intentionally added plastic microbeads or microplastics. This measure allows for thorough consultation and sensitization among private sector stakeholders and regulatory authorities, ensuring a smooth transition.

The Technical Working Group on single-use plastic products, comprising senior officers from various Agencies including the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority, has been instrumental in shaping this phase of the ban. The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation has also engaged with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and major importers and distributors of single-use plastic products to ensure comprehensive stakeholder input.

To facilitate the new regulations, amendments to The Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018 will be made. These include:

• Expanding the definition of ‘single-use plastic’ to encompass plastic food containers and cosmetic care products with microbeads or microplastics.
• Exempting transparent plastic lids related to single-use plastic food containers.
• Retaining the existing prohibition measures.

Importers will be required to submit a pre-shipment declaration, including a quality or inspection certificate from an internationally recognized accreditation body, to aid regulatory agencies in identifying target products at ports.

Plastic, while beneficial due to its inexpensive, flexible, durable, and lightweight characteristics, poses significant environmental hazards. Non-biodegradable plastics break down into microplastics, contaminating the food chain and marine environment. Marine animals often mistake these microplastics for food, leading to adverse ecological impacts.

The GOJ is committed to mitigating the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution through stringent regulation of plastic products across their life cycle. This phased approach aims to promote sustainable practices and protect the natural ecosystem for future generations.

-30-

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda says two medium-term projects are to be implemented under the Western Water Resilience Programme at a cost of US$160 million.

Updating stakeholders during a Stakeholder meeting on Water Resilience in Western Jamaica, at the Grand Palladium in Hanover yesterday (May 29, 2024), Minister Samuda said the projects are part of a carefully crafted suite of investments, aimed at increasing the resilience of the western section of the island in the face of a changing climate and erratic weather patterns.

He noted that the first project involves the upgrading of the transmission mains from the Martha Brae Treatment Plant to the Terminal Reservoir.

“From the Martha Brae Treatment Plant to the Terminal Reservoir is line one, that we intend to replace with a larger carrying capacity and a new modern line that hopefully will give us 40 to 50 years of reliable transmission of water from Martha Brae into Terminal.  That will reduce some of the pressures from Great River which then pumps East, because Martha Brae is able to produce more water.   We will be asking the WRA (Water Resources Authority) to increase the license for all of our extraction points within what is (considered) safe and healthy for these water systems” the Minister explained.

Minister Samuda further noted that the increase in supply from Martha Brae to Montego Bay, will further reduce the pressure on the Great River system.

“So that pipeline being reliable and reducing your NRW (Non-Revenue Water) significantly in St. James, will have a benefit as far as West End and the people that are served by Bulstrode” the Minister noted.

He added that the second project, would address the line from Lucea into Logwood.

“That line will be replaced and upgraded as well, but that’s not the first part that has to be done to reduce the significant leakage that you have. So, the works will start in Lucea and will go all the way to the western end of Negril. What that will do, is allow Great River to supplement what is a system in crisis, which is the Logwood System, because you will have one straight flow that allows for stronger supplies” he explained.

The Minister added that the pipes would be part of a greater (interlinked) system.

“This is a part of a greater concept that we have, which will build a bit of a ring road of pipes, so that whenever a system is low, you are able to supplement from another system,  because as we are seeing with the rainfall data,  it is very haphazard and it is becoming harder and harder to predict with the rate of climate change that we’re experiencing” the Minister stated.

Minister Samuda said the two lines will be done on a design and build contract, through direct contracting, because of the emergency circumstances.

He said that the phasing and Gantt Chart for the project, envisions four to six weeks of engineering which has started, with an initial expenditure of $32 million, adding that the Government has committed the resources to purchase and install the pipeline.  The timeline for the project is 18 months.

         -30-

Short-term projects to alleviate the drought facing businesses and communities in Western Jamaica, which were previously announced at a stakeholder meeting in Negril on April 4, are reaping success.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda provided an update yesterday (May 29, 2024) on the projects to stakeholders, during a special meeting on Water Resilience in Western Jamaica, at the Grand Palladium in Hanover.

The Minister noted that six major leaks along the distribution network in Negril were repaired over the last two months, to reduce the significant Non-Revenue Water (NRW) issue in the area.

He added that repair work along the Salt Creek Bridge stretch, which had been a source of deep concern would be completed within the next two weeks.

The Minister also announced that works along the stretch from the West End to Red Ground which has a particularly degraded distribution network, would be completed in three weeks.

“For those who would have had a chance you would have seen that the pipes to do 1.2 kilometers of line replacement were actually delivered on Monday (May 27).  Heavy equipment was moved into the space yesterday,  and work started today. When one adds up the work in the West End,  the work on Salt Creek Bridge, and the additional line works that have been done,  we expect to be saving approximately one million gallons that were being pumped into the ground”, he explained.

Minister Samuda added that work would be done on four major areas of degradation in Hanover, over the next eight weeks.

Continuing with the short-term measures, Minister Samuda also stated that the decalcification or “pigging” of the Great River system was completed on Friday (May 24, 2024).

“That’s a major step for St. James,  Hanover, and Westmoreland because that water at Great River comes back to Terminal in St. James and pumps westerly down towards Green Island.   It never used to be able to get to Green Island.  What that means is that the Logwood Plant, that used to pump both easterly and westerly will now be focused on pumping and supplying purely westerly.  So the Norman Manley Beach Road and the road going up to the West End, once that work is done on the distribution line, should see significant improvement”, the Minister explained.
–30–

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the National Water Commission, will be moving to address the infrastructural issues with the water distribution network between Braeton and Hellshire in St. Catherine.

Speaking on Friday, May 17, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the Hellshire Phase 3 Booster Pump Station at Fort Hill in Hellshire, Minister Samuda stated that updates on the line between Braeton and Hellshire will be provided in the next quarter.

“We do say to residents that in the next quarter, we should be able to provide some updates because we do not intend to go into the next drought season in this area with particular infrastructural weaknesses that you have. So we’re looking at how best to tailor that solution and we’ll be working with all our partners certainly the NWC and MIYA”, he stated.

The Minister further noted that the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) project had been successful in reducing the volume of water lost to breaks and theft in the Portmore area, from 70 percent to approximately 40 percent.

“We are working with the National Water Commission and indeed with MIYA to ensure that this figure comes down. I believe we are now in the 40s. The next step, which is that major line from Braeton into Hellshire, will take us much closer to our targeted goal and we’ll be working through the details in that regard. That is how you build water resilience. There are many other facets. We need to increase storage, we need to increase pumping capacity, find new sources, etc., but we cannot continue the broken distribution network nationally,” the Minister emphasized.

Meanwhile, approximately 400 residents of the Fort Hill Estate Community are now benefitting from improved supply pressure; the termination of trucking arrangements, and continuous water supply, following the construction of the Hellshire Phase 3 Booster Pump Station at Fort Hill.

The Fort Hill area was impacted by infrequent water supply and required adjustments to the National Water Commission’s piped network, as well as continuous trucking arrangements to meet the shortfall.

“This community was in need of upgrades. The pumping infrastructure behind us is some J$5 million. The additional works that have been done to connect and some additional piping works were an additional J$5 million. So it’s not the size (of the) announcements that we normally make on a weekly basis, but it is an important one. Ultimately people need to know that they are heard and they need to know that when representation is made, the appropriate allocations follow”, the Minister explained.

The scope of works on the project included the supply and installation of Two (2) Vertical Multistage centrifugal pump units; the installation of suction and discharge pipelines; as well as the installation of flow meters, valves, and various appurtenances.

                                                          –30–

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, has announced that the Government will invest in the Black River Town Centre Line to Arlington/Parrottee in St. Elizabeth this year.

“We do have in this year’s budget and procurement, the Black River town Centre line to Arlington/Parrottee, which will improve the water supply for 4,000 citizens at a cost of $238 million”, the Minister stated.

Minister Samuda made the announcement on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the commissioning of the fourth and final phase of the Hounslow Water Supply and Upgrade Project, at Hopewell in St, Elizabeth.

Assuring the citizens of St. Elizabeth that the Government is actively developing projects that will transform the water sector, Minister Samuda noted that several projects in St. Elizabeth are at varying stages of development, including massive investments in Pedro Plains and Essex Valley.

In the meantime, Minister Samuda explained that the 4th phase of the Hounslow Water Supply and Upgrade Project, which was completed at a cost of J$180 million, involved the replacement of the aged pipeline from the Hounslow Pumping Station, to transfer water via Newell, Williamsfield and Hopewell, for distribution to surrounding areas, including Fort Charles.

The Minister noted that the completion of phases one to three of the project at a cost of over $340.9 million and serving 3,208 customers, represents commitments made to the citizens in 2015.

“Phase one of this project was completed. We established the well in Hopewell, it was the replacement for the failed Parrottee Well.  We then installed a significant length of four-inch distribution pipes and some 10-inch and 8-inch ductile pipes.  Phases 2A and B, now completed, were the Hounslow Well Site going into Newell Square, and we installed a significant number of pipes.  We completed phase 3A and that replacement dealt with the lines going into Barbury Hall.  Phase 3B is now complete, which is the Williamsfield Square to Hopewell where we replaced some 1.6 kilometers of pipes. I am very happy that the commitments made in 2015 have been fulfilled”, the Minister stated.

The communities to benefit from the 4th phase of the project include Newell, Little Park, Pedro, Watchwell, Short Hill/Beacon, Great & Calabash Bays, Hopewell, Fort Charles, Parottee, Williamsfield, Barbury Hall, Fullerswood, Arlington and their environs.

Customers in these areas can expect improved service delivery, as well as a reduction in the need for regular trucking in the area, while the NWC will benefit from a reduction in the existing level of Non-Revenue Water in the Hounslow Water Supply System.

-30-