Residents in the communities of Gravel Lane and Wisbeach in North West Clarendon went to church to give thanks for rehabilitated roadways on which the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) spent $13.5 million.

The official ceremony for the opening of the roads was held recently at the Peckham New Testament Church of God, where the residents and officials spoke of the opportunities that will come to the communities, including the ease with which agricultural produce will now move out of the communities.

Mayor of May Pen Scean Barnswell predicted that with road improvements, other developments would come to the areas and police would be able to respond much quicker to reports of agricultural theft.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing Richard Azan, called on the beneficiaries to resist all activities that could destroy the roads, cautioning: “Everything that we do, comes with a cost, and it (repairs) will come right back to you the taxpayers.”

Azan said that as member of parliament for the area, he was on a drive to revive agriculture in the constituency.

The road projects were carried out by the JEEP component of the Major Infrastructure Development Programme, under which  Azan reported that over the past three years, JEEP has repaired over 1,000 roads across the island.

— JIS