Portmore community benefiting from zinc removal project

Residents in Myrtle Way, Portmore, St Catherine, are benefiting from a zinc fence removal project, under the Government's community renewal intervention programme.

Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, told JIS News that part of the allocation of $4 million was used to improve sections of Passage Fort Drive. With its completion, efforts are now on to improve the community.

"We are removing the zinc fences at the entrance to Myrtle Way, to give the area a facelift, to increase the standard of living for the citizens in the area, and give it a nice look," the MP said. Recently, with support from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, more than 140 houses were wired and placed on the Jamaica Public Service system. The area, which is near JamWorld, has also received piped water, and a free Wi-Fi hotspot provided by the Universal Service Fund.

Miller said he is "pushing" for improved sewerage connection for the community, and then will move to utilise funds that have been allocated to resurface the entire roadway.

"We have done a lot of work in that area, ensuring that the citizens in Myrtle Way have proper amenities. It is a nice area; the persons there are willing to give back to nation-building, so we are here for them and trying our best to uplift the community," he said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the programme in June 2023, to place focus on infrastructure, zinc fence removal and replacement with approved materials, which can lead to a change in the face of the communities. There will also be the provision of more streetlights, which will require the intervention of the Portmore Municipal Corporation.

A resident of Myrtle Way, Peta-Gaye Clarke, said she has lived in the area for 19 years, and "the zinc removal, it really brings up the community from where it was". Another resident, Docia Lawrence, said the "big improvement" has lifted her community, and the "wall fence is a big difference".

"It looks good already. It gives the community a face," she said.