Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer

Rejoin, Hanover:

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) on Wednesday signed a contract valued at just under $23 million, for the rehabilitation of 3.5 kilometres of roadway in the farming community of Rejoin in Hanover.

The contract-signing ceremony took place at the Rejoin Seventh- day Adventist Church in the community, between JSIF representatives and executive members of the Rejoin Citizens' Association.

Project duration

The project is expected to take place over afour-month period and is slated to commence by month-end. The roadwork will begin at the intersection at Brae Pen, and will terminate at the intersection of Old Pen and the Chigwell main roads.

Kingston-based contractors, Seematt Construction Company, will be conducting the rehabilitation works. The scope of the works to be undertaken include scarification and formation, installation of kerbs and channels, asphaltic and rip-rap cross drains, construction of a retaining rubble-stone masonry wall and overlaying of a double-dressed wearing surface.

In his address, JSIF Director Bishop Rudolph Daley said the dilapidated state of many rural roads has impacted on the socioeconomic potential of the respective communities and the lives of citizens.

Market potential

"We hope to reverse this trend with the signing of these contracts today as the rehabilitation of the road will contribute significantly to the market potential of the agricultural products and we hope that persons will be encouraged to produce more as a result," Bishop Daley said.

Ivorine Sealey, president of the Rejoin Citizens' Association, told The Gleaner that her group had applied for the funds from 2004, with the support of the Social Development Commission.

"A needs assessment was done and we put a community profile together. We decided that the road was a priority and applied to JSIF," she said.

Since its inception, JSIF has funded 32 projects totalling just over $104 million in Hanover, six of which have been road rehabilitation projects.