$1.2 Billion for Gustav Rehabilitation Works

The National Disaster Management-Tropical Storm Gustav Rehabilitation Works has been further aided with the allocation of $1.2 billion.
This is contained in the 2009/10 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives.
Funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Jamaica, the main objective of this project, which started in October 2008, is to rehabilitate, restore and protect critical sections of physical infrastructure in Jamaica, and reduce the vulnerability and difficulties, which have arisen for the entire Kingston Metropoltian Area (KMA).
Rehabilitation of the infrastructure will improve flood mitigation and assist in the restoration of Jamaica’s productivity capacity.
The provision for 2009/10 is to facilitate the continuation of drainage rehabilitation works in the KMA and completion of the remaining 40 per cent of the work.
Achievements for 2008/09 include the establishment of 35 contract packages and the 60 per cent completion of the drainage rehabilitation works in the KMA.
The project is expected to be completed in April 2010.