MTW OFFICIALS BACK FROM OVERSEAS TRIP

(left to right) Minister Michael Henry; Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish Director-General OFID; Mr. Said Assi, Assistant Director-General, Mrs. Anna Hulia-Tarter Director of Operations.

Transport and Works Minister, Hon. Mike Henry and Principal Finance Officer (PFO) in the Ministry, Mr. Altius Williams recently returned from an official trip to Vienna, Austria.

While there, they met with representatives of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) led by its Director General Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish.

Minister Henry used the opportunity to present ad discuss with his Austrian counterparts, a number of road projects for which he sought funding assistance. Among these was the Bogue Road in Montego Bay which the Minister indicated was on his priority list of roads. From this discussion, it was agreed that Minister Henry would submit the full feasibility study concerning this particular project as soon as possible. This, in an effort to enable the OFID staff to prepare the project for approval at the October Board Meeting of the Fund.

It was also decided that feasibility studies for other road projects would be submitted in time for the December Board Meeting. Those would then be included in the ‘09/10 fiscal year rehabilitation programme.

The Minister also introduced the Falmouth Pier programme courtesy of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) for funding considerations. The Director General gave encouraging comments concerning the project but the PAJ is expected to submit its feasibility study to see what funding it qualifies for.

PFO Williams and Mrs. Beverley Williamson of the PAJ have been asked to prepare and supply the requisite information to OFID. Another Project which came in for mention during the discussions was the Vernamfield Air Project. The Director General indicated that as soon as more information was available, he would be willing to examine it in more detail.