Plans to complete the $70 million drainage system for the Great Bay/Treasure Beach communities in St. Elizabeth are being hampered by a shortage of funds at the National Works Agency.
This was disclosed on Friday by Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry during a tour of the incomplete drainage system.
Responding to the lack of funding for the project Mr. Henry told residents that he will be seeking to use money from the $300 million approved by the Ministry of Finance for road repairs to construct a much needed culvert.
Mr. Henry outlined that 21 of the 30 million dollars which is needed for phase one of the project has already been spent and the remaining $9 million is being awaited.
The final leg of phase one of the project is expected to begin in another two weeks.
The Transport and Works Minister said an audit will be done on work already completed while funding for the completion of the drainage system will be part of the Ministry’s budget for the next fiscal year.
Friday’s tour came following complaints by residents of the Treasure Beach and Great Bay communities over the long delay in completing work on the system.
Sections of the communities were flooded during the 2004 hurricane season after the ponds in the area overflowed their banks.
Following a series of investigations and consultations a decision was taken to construct a major drain linking all the ponds.
With the recent heavy rains early this month, several homes were again threatened due to the drainage system not being completed.
