Rehabilitated farm road opens economic opportunities for Whitehouse – Lawrence
Published:Thursday | February 29, 2024 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
DANIEL LAWRENCE, member of parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, says the rehabilitation of a farm road leading to the Whitehouse Fishing Beach has provided greater opportunities for growth and job creation.
“This road opens up Whitehouse commercially, because there are a lot of lots [land spaces] along the way, but because of the deplorable condition of the road people choose not to develop their property,” Lawrence said.
He made that statement at the reopening of the farm road that provides access to the Whitehouse Beach by portfolio minister Floyd Green. The project cost $11.4 million.
“We are expecting now [an] expansion of the Whitehouse commercial activities, and this will also employ other people outside of fishing. And that would be tremendous for the area because not everybody is involved in fishing,” Lawrence argued.
Green told The Gleaner that Whitehouse Fishing Beach in Eastern Westmoreland is a critical part of the fisheries sector, where more than 150 fisherfolk ply their trade on a daily basis, providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of Jamaicans.
He admits that there are far too many farm roads across the island that are not enhancing the work of fisherfolk because of the deplorable nature
AVOIDING THE ROAD
“For decades this road has been in a deplorable condition. In fact, people didn’t want to come down to the fishing beach because of how bad the road was,” Green said.
He revealed that Whitehouse Beach is the first of five fishing beaches that will be upgraded under a programme designed to enhance the quality of life for everyone who uses these facilities.
He said poor infrastructure drives up the cost of goods and services, including commuting, and that the Government is aware of these issues and is working to ease the challenges for fisherfolk and their customers.
“We are identifying beaches that are in need of repair, especially the road network, and we are working on them,” Green explained.
“I am happy to say that Whitehouse Fishing Beach is the first fishing beach where we are working on its road, and there are much more to come,” he added.