Parish Councils get $30m Emergency Funds for Drain Cleaning & Vector Control Programme
A total of thirty-point-two-million dollars ($30.2m) has been allocated to the island’s fourteen (14) Local Authorities for immediate drain cleaning and vector control in the respective parishes.
The announcement was made today by the Hon. Robert Montague, Minister of State with portfolio responsibility for Local Government, following a series of tours to parishes that have been ravaged by flood waters resulting from the passage of Tropical Storm Nicole.
The sum will see each council receiving between $1million and $3million dollars towards drain cleaning and $200,000 and $500,000 for vector control.
In correspondence to the Local Authorities regarding the allocation, the Minister has requested that photos be taken of the drains prior to cleaning and afterwards with a “significant marker being apparent in both photographs.”
He has also instructed that “a complete programme of works to be undertaken be submitted reflecting the exact amount of funds disbursed as well as a comprehensive audit at each stage of the disbursement process.”
The emergency drain cleaning and vector control funds were released based on requests from Councils and recent tours of some parishes by Minister Montague last week.
