Govt. to Spend $50 Million on River Training in St. Thomas

Government is expected to spend some $50 million on river training at Seaforth and York in St. Thomas. The National Works Agency (NWA) is currently inspecting work sites and meeting with residents living along the river banks.
Secretary/Manager of the St. Thomas Parish Council, Clinton Gordon has said that of the amount, some $5 million would be spent on equipment, while $45 million would be used to defray the cost of constructing and laying gabion baskets to strengthen the river banks.
He was responding to questions raised by a resident of Seaforth, Emerson James, at the Council’s meeting held at the Seaforth Baptist Church on March 11. Mr. James, who is also President of the Seaforth Community Development Association, said that residents were fearful that in the absence of river training and repairs to retaining walls along the Johnson river, they and their properties could be in “grave danger” in the event of heavy rainfall.
He pointed out that sections of the retaining wall at the Johnson river bridge were washed away during the flood rains in September 2002.
Mr. James also called on the Parish Council to repair the roads in the Seaforth housing scheme.
Another resident, Reuben Plummer raised concerns about the condition of the roads at Pattoo Gully, Prendergast and Navarre Lanes, and the need for garbage collection in these areas.
Addressing the concerns raised by Mr. Plummer, Mayor of Morant Bay, Joan Spencer said that repair work on Prendergast Lane is expected to begin during the 2004/05 financial year. She also noted that an estimate for work on Navarre Lane was submitted to the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sports.
The Mayor said that the Solid Waste Management Authority would be asked to extend its services to Pattoo Gully and Prendergast Lane.