MINISTER PICKERSGILL ADDRESSES POST SECTORAL DEBATE PRESS CONFERENCE

Minister Pickersgill addressing the press conference. Others in the picture from left to right are Dr. Alwin Hales, Permanent Scretary, MTW, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of State, MTW and Mrs. Elsa-May Binns, Senior Director, Policy Planning and Evaluation, MTW.

Subsequent to his contribution to the Sectoral Debate on Tuesday, June 14, 2005, Minister Robert Pickersgill held a press conference on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at the Ministry’s Corporate Office, 138H Maxfield Avenue.

He used the opportunity to furnish journalists with more details concerning his presentation in the House of Parliament, the previous day. On hand to assist with his address were members from the Port Authority of Jamaica, including Mr. Robert Stephens, Senior Vice President, Business Development who gave a power point presentation on developments taking place at the ports.

Minister Pickersgill told the press conference that the Kingston Container (Transshipment) Terminal, the Port Authority’s most prominent commercial entity was a premier performer during the year. He noted that of the overall throughput at the Terminal, transhipment accounted for 81.9% which confirmed the Terminal’s leading ‘Hub status’ in the Central American and Caribbean region. He also highlighted the fact that the further expansion of the capacity of the Regional Transshipment Hub at Gordon Cay in Kingston from 1.25 million to 1.5 million TEU’s or twenty foot container equivalents with the required additional infrastructure had proceeded smoothly.
‘I am pleased to report that the expansion is being completed in August of this year, some two months ahead of schedule…I can also report that the projected and actual expenditure on the project are almost spot on, $45.9million dollars having been the projected cost and the final costs now expected to be $46.2 million,’ the Minister continued.

Turning to the matter of security, the Minister advised that the government has appointed the PAJ as the ‘designated authority’ responsible for port security under the IMO ISPS Code and approved a security programme at a cost of J$1.2billion for the country’s major international cargo and cruise ports. In this respect, the Minister advised the press conference that , ‘over the past eleven months, the new security system has been operating effectively…in addition to the five Vacis X-Ray machines that were put in place, the PAJ has recently acquired one Aracor X-ray machine. He also made mention of two additional Vacis pallet machines and the installation of 39 cameras to provide coverage for the monitoring of the terminal by closed circuit television.

Since the installation of the security system, there has been an increase of some $1billion in the revenue intake by the Customs Department. It was also noted that the American Authorities are desirous of using the Security profile of the Port as a model for the region.

Other projects to be carried out at the Port of Kingston in the current 05/06 financial year include:
· Construction of the Kingston Container Terminal (three stories) Administration building
· Maintenance and replacement of beacons in the Kingston Harbour to mark access channels in keeping with international standards.
· The paving of lands in the Montego Bay Freeport and the construction of Breasting Dolphin at Berth 2 to enhance the safety of vessels during berthing operation. Approximate cost - J68M
· Refurbishing of the Berth 11 Warehouse at the Kingston Container Terminal to accommodate customs officers and to conduct the tripping of containers. Approximate Cost – J$6M

As it relates to road works and infrastructural developments, the Minister highlighted the work of the National Works Agency (NWA). Among the projects spoken of were, the Northern Coastal Highway Project (NCHIP) which he said is behind schedule, however he said that the Martha Brae Bridge and the immediate section of the Highway is soon to be opened.

Projects under construction include The Constant spring Road and Dunrobin Avenue junction and corridor, Shortwood and Constant Spring Roads, Barbican Road and Russell Heights junction and the East Kings House Road bridge expansion
With respect to Highway 2000 the Minister noted that the project consists of two parts, Phase 1 comprising Kingston to Willaimsfield and Phase 2 consisting of Williamsfield to Montego Bay and Bushy Park to Ocho Rios. Last year, the second segment of Phase 1 of the development, Bushy Park to Mandela was opened on December 15 and that followed the opening of the first segment from Bushy Park to Sandy Bay in October, 2003. And on a related item, he observed that a contract was awarded to M&M Jamaica Ltd. in the sum of $11.4M for the preparation of an area where the Fishing Complex in Portmore will be constructed. This is being built to properly house those fisher folk who were displaced with the commencement of work on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000.

Turning to the JUTC, the Minister told the conference that for the period April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005, the company
· Achieved revenue of $2.27B an increase of $39.12M when compared to the 2003/2004 corresponding period.
· In the last fiscal year the JUTC had a total ridership of 77.40 million, a decrease of 11.06 million compared to the corresponding period the year before.
· Marketing strategies used to promote Smart Card sales resulted in an increase in revenue accrued through that facility from $59.7M in 2004 to $110.9M in 2005, an increase of 85.70%.
· The company continued to address the needs of children, elderly and physically challenged as concessionary ridership reflected a slight increase from 27% to 28% of the total ridership when compared to the similar period the year before.

In terms of the Railway, Minister Pickersgill mentioned that on February 2, 2005, the Government signed an MOU with the China CMC Engineering Co. Ltd. (CAMCE), a government of China ompany. CAMCE is proposing to undertake a feasibility study on the revitalisation of the railway, to execute the project and finance 85% of the project. CAMCE has requested and been furnished with information from the NIBJ and the Jamaica Railway Corporation and they have signed a confidentiality agreement. A team of technicians from CAMCE should shortly carry out a due diligence exercise, preparatory to further progress in this new initiative.