The Star (Jamaica)

St Thomas no longer the forgotten parish

Holness upbeat about opening of latest South Coast Highway leg

- SIMONE MORGAN-LINDO STAR Writer

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has suggested that the Southern Coastal Highway Improvemen­t Project is the type of improvemen­t that National Hero Paul Bogle fought for in his rebellion.

“No more will St Thomas be considered the forgotten parish or treated as the long lost cousin, as the focus of my administra­tion is correcting a fundamenta­l wrong that was committed against the people of St Thomas for centuries. This was what Paul Bogle fought for,” he said. Holness was speaking at the official opening of the Harbour View in St

Andrew to Yallahs

Bridge in St Thomas section of the highway in 10 Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew yesterday.

“Our forefather­s would be proud to see this fundamenta­l steps in the realisatio­n of their dreams for St Thomas,” he said. The 17-kilometre project converted the roadway into a four-lane highway. Holness said the entire highway not only connects Harbour View to Port Antonio, Portland but will enhance economic growth within St Thomas.

“As a result of this road, we have 4,000 hotel rooms projected to be built. You are going to see an explosion of housing developmen­t in St Thomas and the Bull Bay area. You are going to find this area being created as a new suburb of Kingston and St Andrew because of the proximity, ease and convenienc­e of the highway,” Holness said. The ceremony attracted hundreds of green-clad supporters who cheered on Holness

and other political

representa­tives. An overly excited resident of East Kingston who gave her name as Andrea, said that although she does not travel to St Thomas regularly, she is happy with the road’s improvemen­t.

“It look good man. The place look like farrin. Mi glad mi live to see this because every

now and again mi will visit mi cousin a country, and mi use to bite mi tongue every time mi travel on St Thomas road. It was like the road a fight yuh straight. Prosperity dis” she said before ringing her bell.

Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew Juliet Holness was thankful of the welcoming change. But she pleaded with the

motorists that use the route to cut their speed.

“Please use the highway carefully because already some of us are starting to drive over in the sea. Take your time on the road and get to find out how the road shape now, she said.

The road opening ceremony was held just hours after the yards of some Bull Bay residents were flooded from heavy rainfall. Among those who were affected was Nine Miles resident Shaneel Grant.

“The highway is a good thing I must say, because it’s less time to go to St Thomas now, and I was really looking forward to this. However, I have been flooded out three times because of the road constructi­on. Last night (Monday) my yard was full of water. The raising of the road turn my yard into a gully, so when the rain fall, the water don’t come across the road any more; it comes straight in my yard. In November, it went straight in my house and was very high. If my baby had fallen off the bed in his sleep, it could have drowned him,” she said.

Mrs Holness encouraged the affected persons to inform her and other political officials within her constituen­cy.

 ?? RUDOLPH BROWN ?? Prime Minister Andrew Holness (fourth right) cuts the ribbon to open the Harbour View, St Andrew to Yallahs Bridge, St Thomas leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvemen­t Project on Tuesday. Assisting are (from left): Michelle Charles, member of parliament (MP) for St Thomas Eastern; Clifford Everald Warmington, minister without portfolio, Ministry of Economic Growth and Creation; James Robertson MP for St Thomas Western; Arlene Williams, permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Chen Daojiang, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica; Juliet Holness, MP for East Rural St Andrew and Speaker of the House; and Custos of St Thomas, Marcia Bennett.
RUDOLPH BROWN Prime Minister Andrew Holness (fourth right) cuts the ribbon to open the Harbour View, St Andrew to Yallahs Bridge, St Thomas leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvemen­t Project on Tuesday. Assisting are (from left): Michelle Charles, member of parliament (MP) for St Thomas Eastern; Clifford Everald Warmington, minister without portfolio, Ministry of Economic Growth and Creation; James Robertson MP for St Thomas Western; Arlene Williams, permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Chen Daojiang, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica; Juliet Holness, MP for East Rural St Andrew and Speaker of the House; and Custos of St Thomas, Marcia Bennett.
 ?? RUDOLPH BROWN ?? Students of Yallahs Primary SChool sing at the officially opening of the highway leg.
RUDOLPH BROWN Students of Yallahs Primary SChool sing at the officially opening of the highway leg.

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