THE rehabilitated Negril Wastewater Treatment Ponds in Westmoreland were commissioned yesterday by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

The rehabilitation work was funded by Jamaica and the European Union, at a cost of approximately $278 million.

Original construction of the facility was completed in 1999, to serve Negril and its surrounding communities. The upgrade has become necessary because of an increase in housing settlements and growth in the tourism sector in the area.

In her address, the prime minister acknowledged that the project was started during the former administration, and issued commendations for the work carried out by both the former and present ministers of water. She described the project as “a meaningful and necessary development project.”

“I am pleased we have come to this stage where the project is completed. Now all the required elements are in place and the facility is ready to better serve the people of Negril,” she said.

Noting that the works were completed within both schedule and budget, the prime minister said this demonstrates that as a nation “we are capable of quality cost effective and efficient performance.”

She pointed out that the impact of the work carried out on the project stretches beyond the confines of the facility, providing information for important studies being done, including a Negril sewage master plan and future development needs.

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