Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
THE MINISTRY of Local Government is contending that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has been getting money to clean drains and gullies, despite Mayor Desmond McKenzie's cry that the council has not been receiving funds to do the job.
Ann Marie Mittoo, public relations officer at the ministry, said that the KSAC received more than $14 million in June to clean drains and gullies. Portmore, she said, got more than $7 million.
In all, more than $100 million was disbursed in June from the Paraochial Revenue Fund to all 14 councils across the island.
SHOWING FAVOURITISM
In a monthly press briefing on Tuesday, an irate Desmond McKenzie lashed out at the local government ministry for showing favouritism to the Portmore municipality. He says the Portmore council is receiving far more than the KSAC to clean drains and gullies, though Portmore is the smallest municipality in the island.
He said that at least $50 million was needed to clean drains and gullies in the capital city but the funds were not forthcoming.
The mayor says the lack of funding from the ministry has forced the KSAC to raise its own revenue to clean drains and gullies across the Corporate Area. He says $8 million from the council's road maintenance fund has had to be used to do the job.
HELP FROM PRIVATE SECTOR
Mayor McKenzie also said that the council has had to seek help from the private sector. The mayor said he has written to various businesses and associations and has met with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) to garner support for drain cleaning in the city.
Already four companies have shown willingness to support the KSAC. Among them are GraceKennedy Limited, who will adopt drains and gullies in the Rae Town Division in tandem with the KSAC, and Petrojam, who will take responsibility for drains and gullies near Marcus Garvey Drive in St. Andrew. J. Wray and Nephew and an unnamed insurance company will also adopt drains and gullies in Waterhouse and downtown Kingston respectively.
