500 Municipal Roads Impacted by Hurricane Beryl

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has advised that some 500 municipal roads were affected during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Addressing Wednesday’s (July 10) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, he shared that the parishes of St. Thomas, Portland, Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth experienced the greatest road infrastructure damage.

“Bridges that are under the direct control of local government were also affected and, in some cases, the National Works Agency and the local authorities worked to ensure restoration of a number of roads across the country,” he said.

Mr. McKenzie estimated that 70 per cent of municipal roads have either been cleared or access has been made possible by way of single-lane traffic.

“There are still major challenges in St. Thomas and in sections of St. Elizabeth and Clarendon, and I know the efforts are being made to create more access to many of these community roads that are still impassable. It is important that the country recognises that the reason why we have been able to respond in such an effective way is because of the collective response of government,” Mr. McKenzie noted.