OVER J$400 MILLION IN PAROCHIAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AMONG HURRICANE PREPARATION MEASURES FOR 2026
Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie says additional measures are being taken to ensure maximum levels of readiness for this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season. In noting that he was contributing to the Sectoral Debate at the start of the Season (June 3), the Minister said thoroughness in preparation as well as rapid, co-ordinated responses to incidents as they arise, are the fundamental objectives of these measures. “This year, 200 participants in the Youth Summer Employment Programme will be deployed to work specifically with the Disaster Co-ordinators in each Municipal Corporation. At least 10 YSEP workers in each MC, will be assisting with Shelter arrangements, and public outreach activities such as Town Hall Meetings. These 200 YSEP participants who will assist the Disaster Co-ordinators will be working for six months, beginning on the first of July. In keeping with the instructions of the Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who is Chairman of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, we will also be implementing emergency drills island-wide, to ensure far more efficient, co-ordinated responses to incidents in real time.
The Minister also announced new initiatives to ensure that parochial infrastructure is ready for the Season. “We will be implementing a Special Drain Cleaning Programme at a cost of $70 million. Under this Programme, each Division will be allocated Three Hundred Thousand ($300,000) for drain cleaning. This is in addition to the drain cleaning allocations given to the Municipal Corporations for the months of May and June through the Parochial Revenue Fund. We are also rolling out a Priority Parochial Road Programme, which will target badly damaged roads that connect communities, and roads that lead to critical places like Hospitals and schools. This Programme is valued at $350 Million, and I wish to emphasize that this is separate from the monthly allocations that the Corporations receive for road maintenance. “