By Cedric Johnson, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
FOURTEEN MILLION dollars is immediately required to rebuild sections of the Savanna-la-Mar Market, ravished during the passage of Hurricane Ivan. Making the disclosure, Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Councillor Delford Morgan, also noted that the Little London, Grange Hill and Petersfield markets had suffered extensive damage.
"The Savanna-la-Mar Market was already earmarked for major repairs. However, due to the damage done to it by the hurricane, the need has become urgent," Mayor Morgan told The Gleaner.
Speaking of other areas requiring urgent attention, Mayor Morgan said six parish council roads Orange Hill in Darliston, Brighton, Salmon Point, Kilmarnock, Fort William and Orange Hill in Shef-field are all impassable.
Giving an update on the restoration of services, Mayor Mor-gan said 70 per cent of the Roaring River water supply has been restored, Bullstrode and Deans Valley water schemes have experienced 50 resto-ation. "But we are trucking water through private contractors and the Rapid Response Unit to areas that have not seen a return of the service so far." He disclosed that in the capital town of Savanna-la-Mar, electricity has returned to all essential services and parts of the commercial district, while in Grange Hill there is a 25 per cent return. "Strenuous effort is being made to have electricity back in Negril," he said.
The Savanna-la-Mar Mayor disclosed that three special committees of the parish council have been set up to plan and co-ordinate the restoration effort in the parish. The first committee, which is being chaired by councillor Earl Brooks, has been working to ensure that the physical plants of schools are ready to accommodate children.
"A special infrastructure committee chaired by Councillor Derrick McKenzie will be planning and co-ordinating the clearing of drains and rehabilitation of roads, while a water committee headed by the Deputy Mayor Bertel Moore is taking care of the restoration of the water supplies," Mayor Morgan pointed out.
