Councillors have all right to complain about not getting enough funding for cleaning drains. One look at this file photo of the St. Mary/Portland border that was washed away by heavy rains in April brings fresh memories of the real dangers of flooding. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Councillors are crying foul because monthly allocations, to be used by directors at the Portland Parish Council to effect drain cleaning throughout the parish, will not be shared evenly.

Mayor of Port Antonio, Benny White, remains adamant that as chairman of the council, thereis no way that the allocations for April, May and June will be shared equally among the nine councillors representing the various parish council divisions.

"Priority will be given to the parish council divisions that are prone to flooding", he said. "Drains, which pose serious threat to life and property, will be treated as a priority. We have a responsibility to ensure that any likelihood of floodingis minimised in flood-prone communities".

The mayor pointed out that there are parish council divisions where drains are not prone to flooding, but needed to be cleaned also. He noted that drains in some divisions including those at Fairy Hill are not prone to flooding, and therefore needed only minor cleaning.

"Drains in Port Antonio, Buff Bay, and the lower Rio Grande Valley, are prone to flooding and therefore will be treated as priority. The superintendent of the council has already submitted a list of drains to the Ministry of Local Government, regarding the amount to be allocated", he further disclosed.

But some councillors, including Derron Wood, of the Fairy Hill division, is against the decision of treating the drain cleaning work as priority.

According to Councillor Wood, every division has its drain cleaning challenges, and therefore is in dire need of cleaning.

"It is now the silly season, but that is not reason enough to do as one pleases", said Councillor Wood.

"Drains have to be cleaned in every division. Failure to do this could result in wide-scale flooding, especially in this hurricane season. We have to create some form of transparency and accountability, when conducting the peoples business".

In the meantime, former Mayor and councillor for the Manchioneal division, Alston Hunter, said while he understands the need to prioritise the drains in the respective divisions, he is at a lost as to why his division is been ignored.

"I have the most drains in my division, which are all prone to flooding", said Councillor Hunter. "Drains extending from Long Road to Hectors River have repeatedly caused wide-scale flooding in several communities during heavy rainfall."

HUNTER