Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Franklin Williams (second right), chief engineer and senior vice-president at the National Water Commission, makes a point yesterday to (from left) Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, Zhao Zhenyu; Donald Buchanan, Minister of Water and Housing and Desmond Munroe, chief technical director at the ministry, while viewing a shipment of pipes from the People's Republic of China. - RUDOLPH BROWN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday received 52 40-foot containers of PVC water and sewer pipes valued at $160 million (US$2.5 million) from the People's Republic of China. They are to be used for water supply and sewage services across
the island.
The shipment is the first of three, which are to arrive in the island within the next six to eight months, under the Jamaican Water Systems Rehabilitation and Extension Project.
The first shipment was unloaded yesterday on the grounds of the Mona Reservoir in Kingston.
Minister of Water and Housing, Donald Buchanan, who received the shipment said that the pipes would improve the delivery of water in rural communities.
"This shipment from China will go a far way in accelerating the delivery of water, especially in our rural communities," he said.
SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Franklin Williams, chief engineer at the National Water Commission (NWC) told The Gleaner that the pipes have been earmarked for specific projects in rural areas such as Kellits in Clarendon; Goshen in St. James; the Albert Town Water Supply system in Trelawny; the Mile Gully Water Supply system in Manchester; Goshen in St. Elizabeth, among others.
The total shipment of pipes, with an overall value of $800 million (US$12.5 million), is the result of a concessionary loan agreement which was signed between the Jamaican Government and the government of the People's Republic of China in February 2004 and 2005.
The loan agreement has an interest rate of two per cent with a 20-year repayment period.
