CHEC takes blame, points to local contractors for St Thomas highway woes

China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has accepted responsibility for the poor-quality material used on a section of a highway in St Thomas, even as it highlighted the role of local subcontractors.

"CHEC also takes full responsibility for works done on the local component sections of the project, which were significantly handled by local subcontractors," said the primary contractor for the Southern Coastal Highway Project.

CHEC stated that it "understands its responsibility for quality control for all aspects of the project". 

"We will ensure that any defect identified is remedied in the shortest possible time at no additional cost to the Government of Jamaica," the company said in a statement on Sunday.

On Saturday, the National Works Agency (NWA) said that based on technical assessments, "poor material quality" caused the deterioration of a section of the multi-billion-dollar roadway between Yallahs Ponds and Pamphret in the eastern parish.

The NWA noted that sections of the roughly 1.6-kilometre stretch deteriorated in recent weeks, exacerbated by rains associated with Hurricane Beryl's passage in July.

Repairs started on Saturday, according to the NWA.

CHEC said it is working to complete the repairs within the next three weeks, with minimal inconvenience to the traveling public. Motorists have been warned to expect delays.

Works Minister Robert Morgan instructed that the repairs be covered by CHEC following a tour of the area on Friday, the agency added.

"Minister Morgan has instructed that the bad material be removed and the road repaired at no cost to the government. The matter is being treated as a defect under the contract for the works, which contractors China Harbour Engineering Company are mandated to fix," the NWA said.

The cost of repairs has not been disclosed.

The highway project began in 2017 and is slated to end in March 2025. It is to run from May Pen in Clarendon to Williamsfield in Manchester; Harbour View in Kingston to Yallahs Bridge in St Thomas; Yallahs Bridge to Port Antonio in Portland and Morant Bay to Cedar Valley in St Thomas. 

The May Pen section was opened in September 2023 and the Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge leg opened in February.

The project is being funded mainly through a US$384 million loan procured in 2016 from China. 

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