JAMAICA | Immediate action needed to Prevent Disaster on South Coast Highway Project

KINGSTON, Jamaica. September 6, 2022. Opposition Spokesman on Transport and Works, Mikael Phillips  is calling on the Prime Minister, who has portfolio responsibility for Works, to immediately intervene to prevent imminent disaster in St. Thomas. 

The call from the Opposition Spokesman has come within the context that the South Coast Highway Improvement is virtually at a standstill, causing major hardship to commuters, transport operations and sub-contractors on the project.

In a statement today, Mr. Phillips said there were roadblocks for the second day causing severe inconvenience to residents, workers and students. He also stated that emergency services were affected as workers in the essential services could not access facilities.

The Opposition Spokesman reminded that the Prime Minister met sub-contractors in June and committed to improvement and further dialogue for “a more collaborate mode to ensure the completion of the project”.

He said despite the Prime Minister’s statement, there has been no improvement on the issues discussed and project implementation has worsened.

These issues include a better road surface during the construction, re-examination of the fluctuation formula given sharp increases in materials prices and consideration of granting additional paid time due to delays not attributable to the sub-contractors.

Mr. Phillips said apart from lack of improvement, some sub-contractors have slowed their work due to non-payment of their bills. He said this has resulted in less work and serious deterioration of the driving course of the road, to the point where it is now dangerous for road users.

Consequently, The Opposition Spokesman said, the Prime Minister’s intervention is now necessary to avert disaster and restore normality to large sections of the main corridors in St. Thomas.

He said this intervention must include implementing the June commitments and investigating the status of contractual payment to the ten sub-contractors on the project.

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