Government Officials Sign Contract for St. James Road Construction

Prime Minister Andrew Holness was present for the contract signing for road works along the St. James Corridor, which he says will amount to $167 million for the 1.6 kilometers of road.

As Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness laments the country’s poor road conditions, he says he understands residents’ frustration noting recent demonstrations to get the government’s attention have been warranted. However, he notes the government cannot do it all. Speaking at the official contract signing ceremony for road works along the St. James corridor on Monday, Prime Minister Holness says with the budget the government has, they must be very strategic with the roads they fix.

He says their first strategy is to build roads that carry the heaviest volumes of traffic. However, he says this doesn’t mean the government will be excluding local subsidiaries and secondary roads. Additionally, his administration will be paying special attention to the quality of the St. James Road construction since it connects to certain attractions.

Prime Minister Holness says the government is focused on building roads according to their use, highlighting the importance of building proper drainage systems. He says the government is also focused on the aesthetics of the infrastructure. The PM also appealed to the contractor to take pride in his work.

Reporter: Nasika Alliman