Natalie Neita Garvey, opposition spokesperson on local government and sport, is calling for Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to provide all municipal corporations with adequate
funding from the Parochial Revenue Fund (PRF) to clean drains and address other municipal infrastructure in the wake of flooding from rains associated with Hurricane Ian.

In a statement this morning (September 27), Neita Garvey said that, in July, the ministry had asked the municipal corporations to establish a drain cleaning programme of $600,000 per division which up to now has not been

According to Neita Garvey, this programme should have been funded by PRF allocations set aside in June and September.

She said that, although September had not yet ended and funds were not yet ready, it was important that blocked drains be cleaned as the Atlantic Hurricane season is now at its peak.

Neita Garvey said drainage failure and improper infrastructure were the leading causes of much of the flooding experienced by communities and roadways yesterday.

She said McKenzie had declared that parishes were ready for the hurricane season, yet no allocation was made to municipal corporations ahead of the season.

“This situation must be remedied without delay as drain cleaning will minimise the impact of flooding from the already undersized municipal drainage systems,” she said.

Neita Garvey said her survey of municipal corporations indicated that only two were able to do any cleaning, utilising an emergency funds allocation.

In calling for the minister to intervene immediately, Neita Garvey said: “It is important that the
Ministry of Local Government provide the money promised in July to assist the municipal corporations in conducting preventative work and put parishes in a better position to manage the rest of the hurricane season and respond to resulting emergencies.”