CONTRACT SIGNED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING VILLAGE

Minister Mike Henry (centre) is flanked by (from left to right) State Minister, Hon, Joseph Hibbert, Mr. Don Mullings, contractor for the project, Mr. Ivan Anderson, CEO of NROCC and Mr. Shawn Grey, Director, Corporate Planning and Performance Management.

A contract in the amount of $83M was signed on Thursday, February 28, for the construction of a Fishing Village complex to be located at the Dyke Road in St. Catherine. The signing took place at the Corporate Offices of the Ministry of Transport and Works at 138H Maxfield Avenue.

The construction of the fishing village comes against the background of the erection of the Portmore leg of Highway 2000. This necessitated the re-location of fisher folk who used to do business along the former Portmore Causeway.

It has been proposed that the fisher folk will be relocated to the Fishing Complex which will be constructed as a part of the Jamworld property on the Dyke Road in St. Catherine.

The facility is to consist of a vending block capable of accommodating 36 vendors, storage units for 110 fishermen and supporting bathroom facilities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Transport and Works Minister, Mike Henry said that he was pleased to see the relocation project moving ahead. He noted that the Ministry under his stewardship would be doing everything possible to better the lot of the fisher folk who were affected. He charged the contractor with the responsibility of completing the project as quickly as possible so that the fisher folk would get on with their lives.

Also speaking at the signing was contractor for the project, Mr. Don Mullings. He thanked the Minister for the opportunity of working with him. He noted that his company, M&M Jamaica Ltd had a good track record with projects they have worked on and he promised that he would be doing everything to complete the project on time and within budget.

Roads and support infrastructure for the complex has already been installed. M&M Jamaica Ltd, the contractor will be responsible for the design and construction of the building facilities inclusive of the vending block, storage units and bathroom facilities. The contract will last for eight months.

• Ferris Cross – Mackfield in Westmoreland
• Alexandria – Browns Town in St. Ann
• Toms River – Broadgate in St. Mary
• Broadgate – Agualta Vale also in St. Mary

Terms and conditions of the loan are as follows:

• Loan Amount: Kuwaiti Dinars 3,000,000.00 (approx.US$10M)
• Tenor: Twenty years inclusive of a grace period of four years.
• Repayment: 32 semi-annual instalments of the principal withdrawn and outstanding; and interest accrued after the date of the first withdrawal application
• Interest Rate: 3.5% p.a on the principal amount withdrawn and outstanding. Payable on February 1 and August 1 each year.
• Admin Fees: ½ % of 1% on the amounts withdrawn and outstanding from time to time.
• Special Cmtmt: ½ % of 1% p.a on the amounts withdrawn and outstanding from Fee

It is anticipated that the loan from the KFAED will assist Jamaica’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the national road network to support agricultural, industrial and tourism activities by meeting the increased vehicular and passenger demands and reducing vehicle operating costs and travel time. The project is expected to start mid 2008 and should be completed by 2011.