WORK on the first phase of the $9.75 million Westmoreland Parish Library expansion project is slated to begin on March 11. The work, which is being done by Ultimate Construction of Barnett Street in Montego Bay, is slated to last nine months. The Ministry of Education will oversee the contract, which is being facilitated by the Jamaica Library Service.

The consulting architect is the firm of Cosmo Whyte Architect Ltd; NO Whyte & Associates are the engineers, the quantity surveyors are BGW Cawston & Partners while West Tech Electrical Engineers are doing the electrical work.

The contract signing took place at the Westmoreland Parish Library recently, followed by the first site meeting. During the meeting, consulting architect Cosmo Whyte outlined the parameters of the project and stressed that the work must be completed on time, and within budget. He also emphasised that the materials used as well as the actual work done on site would be subject to quality control at all stages.

The library will remain open during constructio.

Director general of the Jamaica Library Service, Patricia Roberts, expressed pleasure at the approach to the project and indicated the intention of the JLS to embark on the second phase as soon as possible.

The estimated cost of phase two is $6.25 million. The library has undertaken a fundraising programme to help with the project and continues to appeal to the public to support its efforts.