MoBay Mayor Eyes Abattoir Money

MAYOR OF Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Parish Council, Councillor Glendon Harris, has said he is hoping that the parish will benefit from the $30.6 million allocated in the 2014-2015 Budget to improve some of the abattoirs across the country.

"We have not been so advised," Harris told The Gleaner last week. "We would hope that if this is being done through local government, we would be considered.

"It is a critical component in our parish's infrastructure and as development increases, there will be a greater demand for such a facility," the mayor added.

In his Budget presentation on Holy Thursday, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced the $30.6 million allocation for the abattoir project, which will be done under the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of Small Ruminants project.

Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialised stomach prior to digestion.

The municipal abattoir in St James was closed in 2002 by the St James Health Department due to a number of deficiencies that were negatively affecting its services. The closure was originally slated for three months.

To read more, MoBay Mayor Eyes Abattoir Money

Adapted from The Gleaner