The government on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 signed a US$10 million contract with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to carry-out work in six areas that were badly impacted by Hurricane Dean in August and the subsequent 40 days of rainfall between October and November last year.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry said the areas to get attention under this initial agreement are:
- The Bog Walk Gorge in St. Catherine
- The Roselle main road in St. Thomas
- The road from Muirton to Fair Prospect in Portland;
- The Georgia Bridge in St. Thomas;
- The Yallahs River in St. Thomas and
- The Fern Gully main road in St. Ann.
See the attached speech for more details.
The government also received a grant of US 800, 000, which will go to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to assist that organisation. The ODPEM is expected to use the funds for:
- Risk Analysis and Planning
- Institutional Strengthening and
- Improving public awareness within targeted communities.
Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw said the government will be providing another US 200, 000 to the ODPEM, as part of the agreement with the IDB, making the total amount available being US$1-million.
