Rio Grande Valley on road to recovery

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) on Tuesday signed a contract valued at $47 million for the rehabilitation of roadway in the Rio Grande Valley of Portland.

Some 3.6 kilometres of roadway from Moore Town to Cornwall Barracks, which is in a state of disrepair, is to undergo an overhaul.

Managing director of JSIF, Scarlette Gillings, said that the long-awaited process has begun, and that farmers and other community persons would soon benefit.

"You have been very patient," she said. "We entered talks from as early as 2002, but, back then, there was never enough money to do the work. Today, however, I am happy that, under the European Union Banana Support Programme, funding has been acquired by way of a grant to effect the much-needed repairs."

Gillings explained that the communities of Moore Town and Cornwall Barracks, which are renowned for banana farming, and other crops, should be encouraged to produce more, when the rehabilitation work is completed.

A sigh of relief

She pointed out that motorists, including taxi and minibus operators, who have complained bitterly about damage to their vehicles caused by the deplorable road, willalso breathe a sigh of relief.

The total project, which should last five months, will include construction of V-drains, U-drains, and kerbs and channel drains.

Approximately 1,500 residents are expected to benefit from the road rehabilitation, which is funded through the European Union Banana Support Programme.

'You have been very patient,' Gillings said. 'We entered talks from as early as 2002.'