MHTWW/NWA/MONEYGRAM PARTNER IN PEDESTRIAN CROSSING PROJECT

Minister Robert Pickersgill speaking at the press conference is flanked by Mr. Patrick Rose (left), Planning Engineer at the NWA and Mr. John Warner from Moneygram.

The Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Moneygam and the National Works Agency entered into a pedestrian crossing agreement on Thursday, July 26 at the MHTWW Corporate office on Maxfield Avenue.

This agreement comes on the heels of another which was signed in February, 2006. At that time, over 357 pedestrain crossings were identified which Moneygram agreed to adopt at a cost of US$350,000.00. Since that launch, Moneygram has donated US$357,000 in sponsorship as well as 1,600 road signs including 'pedestrian crossing', 'slow', 'children' and 'pedestrian crossing ahead' signs.

Additionally, 20,000 lbs of thermoplastic for the marking of pedestrian crossings and 1,500 lbs of glass beads to increase reflectivity of the markings have also been received. Moneygram will be allowed to place their logo on the signs and the message, "Sponsored by Moneygram' on each pole.

Speaking at the ceremony to cement the partnership, Minister Robert Pickersgill under whose portfolio road safety falls, noted that a large number of all traffic accidents in Jamaica involving children, occurs at pedestrian crossings. This he observes, is despite the work of the Road Safety Unit in developing and implementing educational Road Safety Programmes.

Continuing, he said, "The job to decrease pedestrian fatalities over the past three years has been a difficult one. However we have managed to put in place measures such as the joint partnership with D&G to the tune of $1.58M to focus on child protection safety to curtail these accidents. ..we are confident that our policies and programmes will continue to yield the desired results."

He hailed the gesture as "an excellent corporate gesture".

For his part, Steve Higgins, Vice President, Marketing at Moneygram said they were very pleased to be a part of the partnership. He pledged on behalf of Moneygram to continue doing their part in the fight against the incidence of accidents on the roads, particularly as it pertained to pedestrians.