The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has signed a contract with Y.P. Seaton & Associates Company Limited for the construction of the Caymanas Estate Sewage Conveyance System in St Catherine valued at J$624 million representing the largest capital development project spend in recent history by the UDC. The function was held on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 in UDC’s 7th floor Conference Room at 12 Ocean Boulevard.
The project will see some 7.4km of force main pipeline being constructed inclusive of two sewage lift stations conveying sewage to the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant, St. Catherine. The system is designed to accommodate sewage from all developments planned for the area. Individual development blocks will be responsible for constructing its own sewage conveyance to link into this primary facility.
The Honourable Arnaldo Brown and Denise Daley, Members of Parliament, East Central St. Catherine and St. Catherine Eastern respectively voiced their support for the completion of the project. Mr Brown commended the UDC for leading this critical part of the infrastructural development of the area noting also that several communities are set to benefit.
Senator the Honourable KD Knight, Chairman of the UDC Board stressed the importance of the completion of the project on time and within budget. In response, York Seaton, Managing Director, Y.P Seaton & Associates Company Limited gave his assurance that like previous projects carried out by the company including the Rio Cobre Dam, that ideal will be realized.
Continuing in his remarks, Senator Knight noted “we are proud to say the source of funds are not loans but from the UDC’s capital development funds primarily drawn from sale of recent assets such as Oceana Hotel, Forum Hotel, and Jamintel etc. In reflection, Senator Knight reiterated the Corporation’s pledge that 75% of the sales proceeds from the Corporation’s diversification programme would be reinvested in local projects.
Having secured the relevant permits and partnership agreements from the National Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA), the National Works Agency (NWA) and the National Water Commission (NWC), the Corporation is expecting early mobilisation by contractor YP Seaton & Associates Company Limited within four weeks of the contract signing
Desmond Malcolm, General Manager, UDC in his remarks echoed the Corporation’s commitment to developing the area along with the relevant stakeholders, noting that the project will also generate employment and increase investor interest in line with the Caymanas Estate Development Plan.
The Caymanas Estate Development Plan (CEDP) outlines a broad development concept for lands owned by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and Alexander Hamilton. The CEDP seeks to capitalize on the opportunities that already exist within Caymans Estate Development Area (CEDA) such as a mixed use recreational/residential/commercial planned unit development in harmony with the environment.
The Caymanas Estate property straddles the parishes of St. Andrew and St. Catherine, with at least 90% of its lands in St. Catherine. This land is approximately 4,332 hectares or 10,703 acres. The estate lands have functioned as a green belt to the burgeoning centres of Kingston and St. Andrew to the east, Portmore to the south and Spanish town to the west.
The UDC has had primary responsibility for the development of the Caymanas area since 1986 and the development of the area is directly in line with the Corporation’s purpose as the government’s leading urban and rural development agency.