Roads to be Patched and Repaired
By: December 7, 2016 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- In a statement to the House of Representatives on December 7, the Prime Minister said the funds will be provided through the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Road Maintenance Fund.
- The Prime Minister also informed that although the programme has been scoped for $600 million, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has only allocated $400 million to date.
The Full Story
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says an additional $200 million will be provided to the islandwide mitigation programme, which will go towards the patching and repairing of the road network.
In a statement to the House of Representatives on December 7, the Prime Minister said the funds will be provided through the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Road Maintenance Fund.
“The need for additional funding is based on representation made by the National Works Agency (NWA) and supported by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, which will support a new patching programme. These additional funds will not only be spent on drain cleaning, it will be used to undertake a patching and repair programme to some of our main roads,” he noted.
Mr. Holness said the islandwide mitigation programme implemented by the NWA has been the subject of queries, but emphasised that the programme can withstand any scrutiny.
“However, we are cognisant of the need to take an inclusive approach towards governance in Jamaica. Consequently, I have directed the NWA to make appropriate structural changes in the implementation of the programme, while continuing to maximise efficiency and value for money,” the Prime Minister said.
He explained that the de-bushing and drain-cleaning programme was designed to address the dangers posed to public health and safety by the continuous rainfall impacting the island in recent months.
“To date, $219 million has been certified for de-bushing and drain-cleaning works across all 14 parishes, which would include all constituencies. The second phase will see greater importance being placed on the cleaning of drains, rather than on bushing of verges,” Mr. Holness said.
Under the programme, roughly 216 critical drains and culverts have been identified for priority cleaning.
The drains targeted are in areas known for their high susceptibility to flooding.
The Prime Minister also informed that although the programme has been scoped for $600 million, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has only allocated $400 million to date.