Fire Protection Services get $115 Million

The Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport’s Fire Protection Services is to benefit from a total of $115 million which has been allocated in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives.
Of this sum, $9 million will go towards the payment of principal and interest on the loan for fire trucks and other critical purchases of equipment. A further $25 million has been allocated for the repair of fire vehicles while $28 million will go towards the acquisition of fire fighting equipment such as hoses with couplings, helmets, breathing apparatus and protective jackets to be used in fire prevention and firefighting.
In the meantime, a provision of $50 million has been granted for use on a priority basis to effect repairs to Fire Stations islandwide. A further $3 million has been allocated to carry out the repairs and replacement of Fire Hydrants islandwide also on a priority basis.
Additionally, the National Solid Waste Management Authority has been allocated some $28 million for the purchase of equipment and the maintenance of parks. Meanwhile, the planning and development project has received $12 million while the Parish Councils have been granted $5 million for the maintenance and upgrading of infirmaries in 10 parishes in Jamaica.