TEAMWORK: (L-R) Deputy Project Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, Yanming Xiao; Minister of Transport and Works, the Hon. Mike Henry; Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency, Patrick Wong; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dr. Alwin Hales; Project Manager at the National Works Agency, George Knight; and General Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, Zhong Dong Tang, join forces to commence work on the Palisadoes Shoreline.

In light of persistent natural hazards and disasters which have damaged the Palisadoes Peninsula, causing significant environmental and infrastructural challenges, the Ministry of Transport and Works, in collaboration with the National Works Agency and the China Harbour Engineering Company, has broken ground for the commencement of the Palisadoes Shoreline Rehabilitation and Protection Project. Chief Executive Officer at the National Works Agency (NWA), Patrick Wong, underscores the importance of the project to Kingston and its environs. “The Palisadoes Shoreline protects access to the Norman Manley International Airport, to the people of Port Royal; it protects theKingston shoreline, Newport East and West etc. This is a project of national importance. Thorough analysis was carried out by all the stakeholders and upon completion we will be able to withstand a category 4 or 5 hurricane.”

Minister of Transport and Works, the Hon. Mike Henry, operates the forklift to officially begin work on the Palisadoes Shoreline.

In addition to the protection of the shoreline, the project will also include:

• The widening of 4 kilometers of roadway to and from the airport
• The road will be raised to 3.2 metres above sea level in anticipation of future development of Port Royal
• A 10 metre wide boardwalk will be constructed on the Harbour side of the Palisadoes shoreline where persons can go jogging and cycling, as well as lay-by with benches for fishing
• The power-grid from Harbour View to Port Royal will be underground in order to react effectively to storms and hurricanes.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Transport and Works Minister, Mike Henry, said that the rehabilitation and protection of the Palisadoes shoreline is part of the Ministry’s multi-modal plan for the transportation sector. He emphasized that the Kingston Harbour is the seventh largest Harbour in the world, and is a critical link in the development of Port Royal into a terminal for cruise ships, as this presents glorious economic opportunities to the country. He said that Jamaica recently accommodated the Zim Antwerp, the largest cargo ship in the world (which is too big to enter the New York Harbour).

Minister Henry added that despite the scope of work to be carried out, the protection of the environment is also of critical importance, and said that the team will be working closely with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to ensure that the marine environment is protected.

The project is expected to last two years, and will be completed at a cost of just over US$65 million.