Gov't pledge to improve water systems

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government will continue to improve water systems islandwide to ensure access of the amenity to residents.

He emphasised that this is imperative, as water is pivotal to Jamaica's attainment of significant economic growth and development.

Holness was speaking at the official launch of the Essex Valley Agriculture Project, at the Lititz Primary School in St Elizabeth, on January 16.

The project, which represents one of the largest investments in irrigation infrastructure in Jamaica, will impact the livelihoods of over 700 farmers on 718 hectares of land, through the provision of irrigation water and improved access to local and global agricultural markets.

Prime Minister Holness also said that the Hounslow Water Supply Project is to be completed in another six weeks.

"So another set of farmers and domestic households in this area [Lititz] will have access to potable water," he stated.

The Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project is being funded at a cost of approximately $1.2 billion by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund through the Caribbean Development Bank, and seeks to enhance the productivity of

farmers in Essex Valley, in a socially inclusive, gender-equitable and climate-sensitive manner.