HMC cries foul

WESTERN BUREAU:

Councillors at the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) want the Ministry of Local Government to grant approval for them to use the monies in their Special Grant For Repairs (SGR) funds, saying that while the millions of dollars are off limits to them, there are numerous projects in need of funding.

The SGR funds are derived from a 20 per cent withdrawal from a monthly allocation made to municipal corporations by the local government ministry for its Parochial Revenue Funding, which is used for maintenance of roads and drains across each parish.

The allocated funds are designated to be used for emergency work, such as the repairing of damaged parochial roads after weather systems such as hurricanes, storms and flood rains.

All seven councillors spoke with one voice in complaining that, despite seeing significant damage from Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael in 2024, the local government ministry has not approved their request for funding to address repairs.

According to Lucea’s Mayor Sheridan Samuels, who is chairman of the HMC, while some municipal corporations are using their SGR funds and seeking approval later, the HMC is not prepared to do that, as there are laid out procedures, rules and regulations to be followed.

“While the grass is growing the horse is starving, as we have over J$100 million in that SGR fund and not getting a chance to spend it to do any repairs for any emergency,” said Samuels, further noting that numerous requests have been sent to the local government ministry to no avail.

He further admitted that a small amount of SGR funding was approved for emergency work after the passing of Hurricane Beryl, which proved insufficient to correct all the damage that occurred from the hurricane.

“When Tropical Storm Rafael passed, it really made matters even worse. We sent in some request then, and until now no approval is forthcoming,” continued Samuels, who said the requests were followed up by telephone calls and letters.

“We are the smallest municipal corporation in the island, and we have the most SGR in reserve,” said Samuels. “We are appealing to the Government of Jamaica, for some attention to be given to this situation… to see to some approvals for expenditure of these funds, as we are not getting the necessary cooperation from the local government ministry. It is unfair for us in Hanover, as no other municipal corporation is having this kind of problem,” argued Samuels.