MINISTER PICKERSGILL OPENS CONCRETE CONFERENCE

Minister Pickersgill addressing the Concrete Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Minister Robert Pickersgill on Friday, June 15, opened the Caribbean Cement/JIE Concrete Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

The conference brought industry stakeholders from all over the island, prompting Minister Pickersgill to highlight the fact that the conference provided an opportunity for them to 'meet and chart the way forward for matters having to do with concrete.' He lauded the efforts of the Caribbean Cement Company which he said contributed significantly to the Jamaican culture, what with 90% of structures in Jamaica being built with Caribbean cement and the company being a major employer responsible for over 250 jobs to the Jamaican economy. He also paid special tribute to the Jamaica Institute of Engineers which he said was responsible for some of the finest engineers in the island.

In opening the conference, the Minister noted that his Ministry was a big consumer of cement and by extension, concrete products. Evidence of this, he said were the many projects falling under his Ministry's portfolio which necessitated the use of concrete. Most of this usage takes place in the housing and construction sectors. In this respect, he said that some 6,629 housing units are expected to come on stream during this financial year; this he said, was in addition to 14,000 which would be repaired under the Social Housing Project. In this context, special mention was also made of the Half Way Tree Transport Centre and the expansion work taking place at the two international airports.

The use of concrete in relation to road repairs and construction as well as the provision of water facilities was also highlighted.

"I am confident that the deliberations and scholarly discourse that will take place here today, will ultimately redound to the benefit of our entire nation," he told the large audience. The conference lasted for one day.