By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
IN A new move aimed at putting road rehabilitation on the front burner, the Ministry of Local Government will be allocating $1 million per month to each Parish Council for road patching and maintenance.
The money is to be sourced from the Ministry's Parochial Revenue Fund.
In addition, the Ministry will be equipping each Parish Council and the Municipality of Portmore with a set of heavy-duty road maintenance equipment. The equipment will comprise a dump truck and a vibrator roller.
In making the announcement Wednesday, Local Government Minister Portia Simpson Miller explained that the process to procure the equipment has been put to tender, and she expects the selection process to be completed shortly.
But, each local authority must satisfy a certain prerequisite. "A programme must be submitted because I believe in proper accounting. We have to account for what we are spending," insisted the Minister.
This criterion, the Minister feels is key to ensuring transparency and accountability of the rehabilitation programme.
MAINTENANCE
Mrs Simpson Miller outlined the new road maintenance thrust while addressing the signing ceremony for nine Parish Council roads in St. James. They are being repaired under the Parish Council Road Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDP).
Some US$14 million has been allocated for road works islandwide under the PIDP. Of that amount, J$37 million is to be spent on parochial roads in St. James over the next four months.
The work will run from August 18 to December 17 and will entail resurfacing and the construction of proper drainage systems.
Loop Road, Maldon, Granville and Spot Valley roads are to be repaired by Chicon Enterprise Ltd., while the other contractor, SWC Woodwork Construction Ltd., is responsible for rehabilitating the Farm Heights and Johnson Hill roads, as well as Piggot Street, Davis Avenue and Peddlar's Lane.
