Over the next two budget cycles, several communities in Western Hanover will benefit from water infrastructure projects totalling some $720 million.

This disclosure was made by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, during a tour of both Western and Eastern Hanover today (January 31, 2024).

Minister Samuda explained that this investment includes the $700 million pipeline from Ruseas to Negril.

“We will start work on that pipeline in the coming fiscal year. That will be a two to three-year project because it involves tanks and additional pumps. But the piping work will start in the new fiscal year which commences in April, when the tendering process begins”, the Minister noted.

Also included in the projects slated for Western Hanover, is the upgrading of the 75-horsepower pump at Kew, to a 150-horsepower pump by the National Water Commission at a cost of J$20 million, to serve the increased population in the area.

“In essence, this $20 million investment will benefit in excess of 4000 households. We are very happy about that, as obviously it will significantly increase the reliability and the capacity of the system to ensure that our citizens in and around this area benefit and get the water that they desperately need and deserve”, the Minister explained.

Minister Samuda pointed out that the pump upgrade was necessary, as the parish of Hanover is now experiencing drought conditions, with very low inflows into the NWC’s facilities.

“Now when you see these low inflows and get back into the cyclical drought that Jamaica faces, one understands why the government is investing at an unprecedented level to ensure that we upgrade the infrastructure that we have”, he stated.

Minister Samuda added that under the Integrated Water Development Strategy outlined by both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, the Government will invest in excess of US$210 million between Martha Brae and Savanna La Mar, over the next five years. This is to ensure that there is reliability and predictability in the water supply.

Minister Samuda was joined on the tour by the Member of Parliament for Western Hanover, Tamika Davis, and the Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Dave Brown, as well as senior representatives of the National Water Commission, and the Rural Water Supply Ltd.