L-R: Councillor Paul Thompson, Mayor of Port Antonio; Dr Carey Wallace, Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund; Richard Williams, the NWC’s Regional Manager and Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio, MEGJC, at the signing of the Financing Agreement for the Carder Park Wastewater Project.

$22.7 million Financing Agreement signed for Carder Park Wastewater Project in Port Antonio The National Water Commission (NWC) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)  have signed a Financing Agreement valued at over J$22.7 million, for work to be undertaken on the Carder Park Wastewater Project in Port Antonio, Portland. Through the Financing Agreement, the TEF will provide the funding to facilitate connections from the Carder Park Mini Stadium, and the Portland Craft Village, to the existing Anchovy Treatment Plant, pumping stations and sewage mains that form part of Port Antonio Water Sewerage and Drainage Project. Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday (August 20, 2025) in Port Antonio, Minister without Portfolio Hon. Matthew Samuda said the partnership between the NWC and the TEF is representative of the Government’s commitment to “cleaning and greening”  the length and breadth of Jamaica. “Our people must have the right mechanisms, the right systems, the right engineering,  to dispose of their waste whether solid or otherwise, to protect that environment.  That can’t happen without good wastewater systems,  so I am very happy and wish to extend my own thanks  to the TEF and the technical team at the National Water Commission, who have designed a particular solution  to ensure that those within the vicinity of the Craft Village  are able to have their sewage be lifted away from that space to the appropriate treatment plant”, he stated. The Minister added that the Government will be continuing the expansion of sewage and wastewater systems in townships across the country, adding that more capital is being deployed at a faster rate that ever before, to invest in potable water, irrigation systems and wastewater systems. “Some $22 billion has been committed for this fiscal year and is already underway for deployment. That $22 billion includes $10.7 billion being funded from the Consolidated Fund to the NWC for its capital works programme”, he stated. Carder Park and the Portland Craft Village, which represent Phase One of the wastewater project, are high-volume generators that are critical for achieving the minimum flows required for the efficient operation of the Anchovy Wastewater Treatment Plant, and to deliver the intended environmental and public health benefits. This first phase is expected to pave the way for the connection of more than 400 remaining properties to the Anchovy Wastewater Treatment Plant. The works include the design and installation of sewer network for both facilities; the installation of a grease trap system at the Craft Market; a sump and pump station for sewage collection; the installation of a pumping line across West Town River Bridge and Allan Avenue; and connection to the existing main sewer network for conveyance to the Anchovy Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Approximately 550 residents in the rural communities of Cascade and Section in Western Portland, now have a steady and reliable source of water, following the commissioning of the $40 millon Cascade/Section Water Supply Rehabilitation Project into service yesterday (August 20, 2025).

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Cascade,  Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, noted that the Government has prioritised investments in rural water systems, stating that there  has been “no segregation where only urban town centres receive water”.

Minister Samuda added that the island is blessed with rainfall, but this has become intermittent due to climate change.

“It means your water systems to store, extract, process and distribute water, and have to outpace the ravages of climate change.   So when your Government takes $40 million of taxpayer money and says it’s time for the people of Cascade to put water woes behind them, we hope you understand that priority was based on commitments made to you, but is also made on good, sound economic management and the fact that we decided that communities like Cascade can no longer continue without water”, the Minister stated.

Noting that there are 100 projects underway throughout Jamaica in both urban and rural areas, the Minister added that the provision of water is an “investment in the comfort, future and way of life” of the residents of these communities and is a commitment to the objectives of the Vision 2030 National Development Plan.

“Jamaica has made a commitment to itself that we will ensure that there is no community left behind by 2030.   It is within our Vision 2030 document, it is accepted within the UNSDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), but it is (also) a firm commitment of this Government.  That is why we are investing J$22 billion currently, to make our water systems resilient, to extend our water systems to those who are left out, and to ensure that we can manage the ravages of climate change  as best as possible”, the Minister stated.

The Cascade/Section Water Supply Rehabilitation project, which was executed by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), seeks to mitigate the acute water shortages that both communities face during the dry season, due to inadequate storage facilities and deteriorated and undersized infrastructure.

Work on the project involved the installation of an upgraded 2-inch distribution pipeline to serve both communities as well as the installation of an elevated storage tank.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda (3rd right), is joined by Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security (2nd right), as well as other officials and community representatives, in commissioning the Drax Hall to Llandovery Water Supply Extension Project in St. Ann on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

$370 million Drax Hall to Llandovery Pipeline Project Commissioned into service Several communities in St. Ann, are now benefitting from the $370 million Drax Hall to Llandovery Pipeline Project, part of the overall Runaway Bay to Mammee Bay Pipeline System, which was commissioned into service on Wednesday (August 13, 2025). Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in St. Ann’s Bay, following a tour of several water projects in St. Ann, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, noted that the upgraded pipeline would facilitate developments along the corridor. “When you see an investment of over $370 million  we expect the business community to respond with corresponding investments along this corridor and we’re not asking them to do it for charity, we’re asking them to do it for the profit that will come from the nearly seven thousand homes that we expect  to be built, between Drax Hall and indeed Runaway Bay”, he stated. Minister Samuda added that the project is not unique as the Government is investing $22 billion in water and sanitation this year and is ensuring that Vision 2030 “comes to life”. “Vision 2030 cannot (just) be a document.  It must be water in a pipe, it must be good roads, It must be data connectivity. It must be good electricity, it must be good health, it must be good schools and that can only happen with a good economy”. Meanwhile in his keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr Horace Chang, stated that the Government is taking the necessary steps to ensure the development of the North Coast, adding that it is committed to an adequate and interconnected water supply for the corridor. “We are committed to ensuring that the connection all the way from Roaring River in Westmoreland  that will go to Negril; link back to Logwood in Hanover; link back to Great River at the other end of Hanover and St. James; link back to Martha Brae in Trelawny into Bogue in  St Ann  and into White River and possibly further along the coast,  that we can have interconnectivity in the water supply  and if a problem arises, you can in fact shift from one (system) to the other easily.  That is the vision of a Government that thinks about what it is doing and cares about the people”, he stated. The Runaway Bay to Mamee Bay Pipeline Project is a major infrastructure initiative by the National Water Commission (NWC) aimed at strengthening water supply along the North Coast corridor. Work on the project includes the installation of 7.6 km of 300mm pipelines, which will deliver an additional 2.0 million gallons per day, to meet the medium-term water demand of the area. The project will serve the communities of St Ann’s Bay, Priory, Plantation Cove, and surrounding communities, as well as the Seacrest Beach Resort, Plantation Cove, Chukka Cove and Cliffs and the Paradisiac, housing development. Other projects visited in St. Ann on Wednesday, include the $125 million Walkerswood to Breadnut Hill Pipeline Upgrading Project; the $24 million Shaw Park Heights (Lime Bottom) Water Supply Project; as well as the $65 million Davis Town Water Supply Rehabilitation Project.

The New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) is providing hope and helping to rebuild the lives of 38 residents of Findlay’s Cottage at 44 Walker’s Avenue in Gregory Park St. Catherine, who lost their homes to a fire, reportedly caused by an arson attack, on August 12, 2023.

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, broke ground on Tuesday, August 5 2025, for work to begin on the Serenity Grove Housing Development, which will replace the dilapidated structures once occupied by the 10 households in Gregory Park St. Catherine.

“This is a housing programme. It will enhance the lives of the 38 individuals. The 10 households that live here, they will feel better for it. I expect that they will use it to ensure that their children do well in school, to break intergenerational poverty. But when I come back here two years after it is opened, I don’t want to see the place look mash up..we must make this be the pride of Gregory Park”, the Prime Minister stated.

Reiterating the fact that the NSHP does not provide land for developments, Prime Minister Holness said beneficiaries must have access to land, either by owning it, or having permission to use it.

“That is probably the most time consuming part of the whole project of social housing. The GOJ cannot break its own laws. So we can’t go and build on land that we don’t own, or we don’t know who owns it and we don’t have permission to build on it”, the Prime Minister explained.

In the case of the Serenity Grove Development, Prime Minister Holness said several processes to secure rights to the land had to be followed, as there were uncertainties regarding its ownership, which lengthened the development process.

“So we are here today because we have followed the process through and through and we are satisfied that we are on firm ground in being able to build on this piece of property without contest and you will be secure in the homes that you are getting. We had to do all kinds of things to comply with the law. It took us 2 years from 2023 to now, to be able to stand here and do this”, he noted.

The development will be constructed under Modality Three (Upgrade of Tenements or Big Yards) under the New Social Housing Programme and will feature a total of ten (10) housing units, comprising:

• Four (4) two-bedroom units
• Six (6) three-bedroom units

The units will be constructed by Pavecon Limited at a cost of J$109.4 million. The project is scheduled to begin in August 2025 and is expected to be completed within six (6) months, by February 2026.

To date, a total of 300 housing units have been completed under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), benefiting more than 1,082 individuals across 57 constituencies. There are currently 45 active construction projects underway in 19 constituencies.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, breaks ground for works to commence on the Haven Housing Development in Central Kingston, under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP)

Work on Haven Housing Development in Central Kingston set to commence on Monday August 11 Work will begin on Monday,  August 11, 2025, for the construction of units on the Haven Housing Development Tenement Upgrade Project, at 41 – 43 Hanover Street in Central Kingston. This was announced yesterday (August 7, 2025), by Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of work on the project, under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). In his address, Prime Minister Holness noted that the development is an important milestone for Central Kingston, adding that the area needs significant intervention. “As you go through central Kingston and are looking at the attempts at social housing  and are looking at the urban blight that has affected the community, you realize that there must be a significant and instrumental intervention in recovering the value that is here… You have roads that are already scribed out, paved, some areas have sewage, you already have water mains and electricity.  All that is needed is to upgrade the houses and properly define and restore some system of ownership” he stated. The Prime Minister further stated that it is the Government’s intention to undertake a “massive urban renewal and regeneration programme in communities like Central Kingston”. Prime Minister Holness added that historically because of the high volume of occupants in the area, consideration has to be given to mixed-use  and high-density development. “In addition to building the houses, we are also going to put in one commercial space, so we will put in a shop space with frontage…but it is giving you some insight into how we are going to move along this pathway of renewing our urban areas. We are taking into consideration the social and economic context within which the people live, so we are not just coming here to build a house.   There is significant consultation and study. We pay attention to the history and the culture”, he noted. The Haven Housing Development is being undertaken by contractor, Yardworks Construction Company Limited,  at a cost of approximately J$189 Million under  Modality Three (3) of the New Social Housing Programme,  the  Upgrade of Tenement (Big Yards). The Haven Housing Development is the 8th contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for units to be constructed under this modality. When completed in 12 months, eighty-three (83) residents including 38 children, will benefit from the development which will consist of 21 Housing Units  comprising three studios,  one (1) one-bedroom; six  (6) 2-bedroom and eleven (11) 3 -bedroom units. To date, a total of three hundred (300) housing units have been completed under the NSHP, benefitting over 1,082 individuals, across fifty-seven (57) of the sixty-three (63) constituencies. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Holness also handed over 4 units, under Modality one of the NSHP, the provision of indigent housing, to beneficiaries at: 33 Victoria Avenue 33  Maiden Lane 40 Rosemary Lane an 39 Georges Lane, all in Central Kingston.

St. William Grant Park in Downtown Kingston came alive today (Thursday, July 31), as the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) ramped up Plastic Free Summer activities with a  Local Education Drive (LED) under the theme “Break Up With Plastic”.

Teams from the Ministry, as well as its agencies, partners and stakeholders were on location to distribute educational flyers about the impact of plastics on the environment, engage with the public and the Downtown Kingston business community on the Plastic Ban, and share tips on sustainable alternatives to single use plastics.

In a brief address, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Arlene Williams, reminded the public about the harmful effects of plastic pollution on the environment.

“Now plastic as you know, is very harmful to our environment.  It takes many many years to disintegrate.  Our marine life is being affected  by plastic. Our very existence  is being affected by plastic and so the Ministry is pushing the elimination  of plastic and our campaign today is pushing Reuse, Reduce, Refuse and Recycle”, she noted.

For his part, Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Leonard Francis highlighted the adverse effects of  plastics and microplastics on the human body and the environment.

“I am afraid of plastic because I did some research and I’m telling you, it’s a serious thing.   They say microplastics…it goes into your heart,  it goes into your lungs and it goes into every part of you”, he stated.

Adding that plastic is also detrimental to humans if it is burned, Mr Francis encouraged members of the public to ”Break up with Plastic”.

“Everything starts with one person. One person can change the  entire world and I’m telling you, if we just start with you, or anybody here, that makes a big difference”, he said.

Businesses who have adopted plastic-free practices were highlighted and others were encouraged to do the same through targeted outreach.

Other partners and stakeholders involved in the LED included the Jamaica Environment Trust, which donated recycling bins to Kingston High School and eco-friendly food boxes to food vendors; Alter Eco which manufactures sustainable utensils for the Jamaican Market and the Grace Kennedy Foundation, which is leading the charge in the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project.

ZJ Sparks brought her own brand of flavour to the event, igniting the crowd’s  enthusiasm for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, while social media influencer Evert “Evy Royal” Johnson helped to spread the message to “Break up with Plastic”.

Plastic Free Summer, is a local initiative by the MEGJC, that was born out of the global observation of Plastic Free July.   It is aimed at heightening public awareness about the Ban on Single Use Plastics, with the goal of  empowering Jamaicans to make eco-friendly choices that will protect the environment as well as their communities.

For more information and to stay updated on Plastic Free Summer activities, follow the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation on all its social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok at megjc_jm.

Kingston, Jamaica: The Government of Jamaica has taken a major step toward addressing traffic congestion along the island’s North Coast with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC). The signing ceremony took place on Monday August 4, 2025, at the Office of the Prime Minister. The agreement outlines cooperation on developing the required Feasibility Studies for the North-South Highway Extension Project (NSHEP).

The National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC) confirmed that the traffic volume along the North Coast Highway, particularly through the parish of St. Ann, has exceeded the current road capacity. In response, NROCC has conceptualized an alternative highway route through St. Ann to alleviate congestion and improve travel efficiency.

The proposed North-South Highway Extension Project will consist of two new segments branching from a grade-separated interchange near Mammee Bay, St. Ann:

• Segment 1: Extending westward from Mammee Bay to Discovery Bay, St. Ann
• Segment 2: Extending eastward from Mammee Bay to Tower Isle, St. Mary

Under the terms of the MOU, the Government of Jamaica, through NROCC, will provide CHEC with the available data needed to carry out the required studies. CHEC will undertake the required feasibility studies at no cost to the Government.

“The traffic that we face in St. Ann is a consequence of the rapid development that has taken place in that region over the past decade. Development is a symbol of the prosperity that has happened over the past several years. This initiative will alleviate the traffic on the North Coast Highway in St. Ann and increase access to lands for housing, agriculture, and business,” said Hon. Robert Morgan, Minister Without Portfolio with responsibility for works.

The Government’s commitment to infrastructure development continues to drive national growth, enhance road safety, and support sustainable economic development across the island.

For further information: 

Robert Nesta Morgan, MP  

Minister with Responsibility for Works

Chief Technical Director, Development Planning, Environment Policy and Management, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Gillian Guthrie, addresses a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ in Kingston on Wednesday (July 23).

With the fourth phase of the ban on specific types of single-use plastic products now in effect, manufacturers, distributors and importers are being urged to offer more environmentally friendly alternatives to consumers.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ in Kingston on Wednesday (July 23), Chief Technical Director (CTD), Development Planning, Environment Policy and Management, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Gillian Guthrie, said plastics are non-biodegradable products that can take decades to decompose, especially in the natural environment.

“We are encouraging the manufacturer, distributor and importer to provide to the consumer the environmentally friendly alternative. It is going to cost a little bit more upfront but like everything else that is good for you, over the long-term, the benefits that will accrue are even greater,” she stated.

Ms. Guthrie further encouraged consumers to play their part by urging businesses to stock more sustainable options.

“We ask the public… to demand the alternatives, because it is for the betterment of the quality of life that you experience,” she added.

Ms. Guthrie emphasized that while plastic is embedded in modern life, not all types are essential, and replacing those that are unnecessary is both possible and necessary.

“The challenge with plastics is that it’s all over. Plastics are in our clothes, in our cars, in our shoes; it is something that is now engrained in our lives. But what we’re trying to do is to get rid of the plastic that we don’t need, and we [really] don’t need some of these plastics,” she pointed out.

Ms. Guthrie highlighted that the success of the transition depends on full cooperation from all stakeholders.

“It is something that we have to bring the society, the manufacturer, distributor and the importer along with. So we didn’t do it one time. We’ve been trying to do a phased approach, trying to bring the consumer along with it,” the CTD indicated.

Since 2018, the Government of Jamaica has adopted a phased approach to banning specific single-use plastics, ensuring that environmentally friendly alternatives are available and affordable before implementing each new restriction.

The fourth phase, which took effect on July 1, 2025, targets single-use plastic food containers as well as personal care and cosmetic products containing intentionally added plastic microbeads or microplastics

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is targeting a significant increase in the delivery of homes under the New Social Housing Programme(NSHP).

“This programme is delivering on a monthly basis, at least ten or more homes for needy families and what we are trying to do now is scale up the delivery of homes. We want to be delivering in the region of between 20 and 40 homes per month”, the Prime Minister stated.

Speaking yesterday (July 16, 2025) at the Contract Signing and Groundbreaking for the Wakefield Mews Housing Development in St Catherine, Prime Minister Holness said this target can be achieved.

“It can be done, because if you need to deal with 6000 families then you really have to ramp up the delivery of the houses” he stated.

The Prime Minister reiterated that one of the main obstacles for the delivery of the units under the NSHP is the provision of land.

“This programme does not provide land. The beneficiary has to get access to land and then come to us, and then we build on the land. So, we are now looking as our Permanent Secretary has said, to identify lands that we can put social housing on. We don’t want to become a housing developer and to be competing with the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) and the NHT (National Housing Trust), so we will look at it very carefully”, he stated.

The Wakefield Mews Housing Development, formerly called Backlands in the Buxton Town Area of St. Catherine is being developed under Modality 3 of the NSHP, which is the Upgrade of Tenements/Big Yards.

The development, which is being constructed at a cost of $44.2 million, will comprise three 2-bedroom and three 3-bedroom units as well as the necessary infrastructure works, and is expected to commence this month (July) with completion expected by January 2026.

Twenty-four (24) persons, including 14 children, who were living in substandard conditions, are expected to benefit from this project.

The Government has allocated $350 million to support national drought mitigation efforts, aimed at easing the impact of the dry conditions currently affecting several parishes across the island.

Addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House on July 16, 2025, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, said the funding will support immediate water relief initiatives as well as strategic infrastructure investments to improve drought resilience.

“Those measures will include $250M which will be executed by the MEGJC, which will see trucking that will be directed through Members of Parliament of approximately $150M. It will see further trucking support to the National Water Commission of approximately $50M to service critical infrastructure and $50M towards additional tank purchases”, the Minster noted.

Minister Samuda further noted that an additional $100M will be channeled through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, to assist farmers and will be shared between water trucking, drip irrigation systems and grass purchases.

Minister Samuda reported that over the last nine years, more than 350,000 Jamaicans have benefitted from improved access to water as a result of long-term investments in the sector. He said that the Government is currently midway through executing approximately $22B in capital works in potable water, sewage and irrigation systems that will benefit over 900,000 Jamaicans when complete.

“We want to assure Jamaicans that the investment is already bearing fruit. These large investments include the Western Resilience Water Project, which will see significant expansion and improvement in the distribution network, the processing network and indeed storage systems in western Jamaica, spanning from Martha Brae all the way around to roaring river in Westmoreland”, he stated.

The Minister added that significant benefits are also expected from the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) programme.

“Non-Revenue Water includes major line replacements that NWC is doing, which goes up to about $10B this year. It also includes the $5B being spent through the National Works Agency under the SPARK (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network) Programme, which changes old pipes so when roads are laid they don’t have to go and repair roads immediately after”, he explained.

Minister Samuda noted that efforts are also underway to expand water production capacity, noting that construction has already begun on the Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant that will supply 15 million gallons of water a day to Spanish Town, Portmore and Kingston and St. Andrew.

“In February 2022, in Kingston and St. Andrew, we were short 12 million gallons a day in that drought, the worst of our droughts. This system will provide 15 million gallons of water a day when complete in less than two years, based on where we are”, he noted.

Minister Samuda gave the assurance that the Drought Management Committee of the Integrated Water Resource Management Council, will ensure that the allocation will reach persons most in need, adding that members of the police, fire brigade and the Social Development Commission have been engaged to ensure that social cohesion is managed during the dry period.