TEF and Hanover Municipal Corporation sign MoU

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Hanover Municipal Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on future development projects in Hanover.

“We are finally getting something out of the TEF,” said Lucea’s mayor, Councillor Sheridan Samuels, in expressing his happiness with the MoU at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the municipal corporation in the parish capital, Lucea, last week.

He pointed out that the MoU will cover areas such as the beautification and improvement works to be carried out in Lucea. Samuels expressed regret that the arrangement was not in place before, especially since the parish is important to the nation’s tourism product and is resident to some of the largest hotels in Jamaica.

“Finally, the persons at TEF and TPDCo (the Tourism Product Development Company) have seen where it is important for us to do something within the town to ensure that tourists passing through Lucea will get a chance to enjoy the beauty of the town,” said Samuels.

TRAFFIC SITUATION

He also noted that the concerns of the municipal corporation about the traffic situation in Lucea have been brought to the attention of the TEF and TPDCo with the hope that consideration will be given to improving the situation. He said that a proposal has also been forwarded to both organisations for them to look at alternative routes through and around the town to ease the traffic congestion.

“We are still lobbying to get the bypass,” said Samuels, in reference to plans announced by the prime minister and the minister of finance to the construct a bypass.

The mayor also added that a commitment has been made to undertake drain cleaning, de-bushing and de-silting works.