Criminals force NWA to abort work on section of Mandela Highway
Published:Thursday | October 10, 2024 | 6:29 PM
The National Works Agency (NWA) says it aborted work today to improve the section of the Mandela Highway through Central Village, due to the actions of criminals.
“The work crew carrying out the preparatory works for the patching of the road left the corridor after criminals sought to extort the contractor,” Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister Without Portfolio with Responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, said in a press statement today.
He is, however, adamant that the work will be done, and that the government will not be prevented from making the Mandela Highway safer for road users.
Minister Morgan said that he has been in touch with the police high command and that the security forces will be mobilised for the works to continue and be completed.
The work being done along the Mandela Highway forms part of the government's push to improve corridors impacted by Hurricane Beryl and subsequent rains.
The work is being done under the Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) Programme, which is valued at $3 billion.
“The government intends for Jamaicans to receive the full benefits under the programme and no act of criminality will prevent this from happening,” Morgan said.
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