MINISTER PICKERSGILL GIVES UPDATE ON MINISTRY PROJECTS

Minister Pickersgill making his presentation.

Minister Robert Pickersgill gave an extensive update on projects and programmes falling under the Ministry's purview at a Press Briefing at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday, March 9, 2007

Speaking to both media personnel and Heads of Agencies reporting to the Ministry, Minister Pickersgill noted that since the merging of the Ministries of Transport and Works and the Ministry of Water and Housing, 25 Agencies were now reporting to the new merged Ministry. Notwithstanding the added challenges coming with that change, he said that the whole staff was equal to the challenge of taking the Ministry forward.

Some of the Projects on which he gave an update, included: Highway 2000, the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (Segments 2a & 3) Other Road Projects, Traffic Management, the Palisadoes Protection and Rehabilitation Project, the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, Port activities, Cruise Shipping, Airport expansion at both international airports, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the Ports Security Corps and the JUTC. Additionally, presentations were made concerning the Housing sector, focusing on the National Housing Policy, the Social Housing Programme and the NHDC. The Water Sector saw presentations from the Water Resources Authority, the GOJ/IDB Rural Water Programme and the National Water Commission.

The Minister said that he was satisfied with the progress the Ministry has made having been designated guardians of the nation's housing, transport, water and works portfolio. He asserted that there were many positive stories coming out of the Ministry that needed to have been told. "We pledge to continue working in the interest of bettering the lot of the Jamaican people and ultimately our station in the world," he concluded.

In addition to the various heads of agencies present at the press conference, were Minister of State, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alwin Hales and Director General, Mrs Genefa Hibbert.