$6.14 Billion Allocated to Disaster Management Programme

A sum of $6.14 billion has been allocated to the Disaster Management Programme in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works. This is outlined in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
The programme aims to develop a comprehensive system for dealing with disasters, whether natural or man-made, by implementing preventive measures, public education programmes and planning emergency operations, so as to mitigate the human and economic impact of disasters. The works will be effected through the National Works Agency (NWA).
Of the sum, $1.65 billion will be used to undertake emergency repairs to roads; and $111 million has been allocated for the cleaning of gullies. The $4.37 billion allotted to the Special Flood Damage Programme will be used to re-imburse the Consolidated Fund. Some civil works carried out in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 financial years were funded under the Special Flood Damage Programme from the proceeds of the Venezuelan Investment Fund (VIF) and the Petro Caribe Fund (PCF), respectively.
The islandwide works included the rehabilitation of main, farm and parish council roads; construction of critical retaining walls; drain cleaning/flood control; disaster mitigation and the airport (Kingston) road study.