$1.3b Allocated to NWA and NSWMA under Post-Hurricane National Clean-Up Campaign

The National Works Agency (NWA) and National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) have been allocated $1.3 billion under the National Clean-Up Programme forming part of the Government’s Hurricane Beryl Relief and Recovery Efforts.

Of the sum, $800 million will go to the NWA, with the remaining $500 million programmed for the NSWMA.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure while making a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 16).

He said the $800 million is a small part of the overall preliminary estimate from NWA for road infrastructure repair and rehabilitation, totalling $10.25 billion.

“This programme of work, which will be executed over a one-month period, will include extensive bulky waste and residential waste removal as a result of the hurricane, clean-up of thoroughfares and urban centres and removal of overgrown vegetation as well as overgrown and fallen trees,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that the upcoming Emancipation and Independence holidays in August present the perfect opportunity for Jamaicans to get involved in this initiative by participating in the cleaning and beautification efforts.

“It is our intention to utilise the labour of community personnel aided by the use of small tools and heavy equipment, where necessary. Please note that this programme will not be driven by the Members of Parliament (MPs). Therefore, there will be no specific constituency allocation, as not all constituencies were equally affected,” Mr. Holness said.

He noted, however, that Councillors and MPs will be able to make recommendations for consideration under the programme.

“The NWA and NSWMA will, therefore, have the latitude to focus on fast-tracking the recovery efforts in areas that have been most affected,” the Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Holness advised that the NWA has, largely, achieved the task of ensuring vehicular mobility islandwide in the hurricane’s aftermath.

He explained that the Agency recorded 590 roads that had been affected by the hurricane.

The Prime Minister said, of these, 15 roads or 2.5 per cent remain blocked, 372 or 63 per cent have been restored to full two-lane access, and 203 or 34 per cent have been cleared to facilitate single-lane access.

Mr. Holness indicated that the NWA’s next task is to clear waterlogged and flooded areas, entailing clearing drains and gullies and removing blockages and washed-down debris to prevent future flooding.

“This activity will be done in collaboration with the NSWMA [which] will be responsible for the removal of bulky waste, and with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in targeting areas that may be breeding sites for various vectors. particularly mosquitoes and rats,” he said.