$640 million bill to fix roads damaged by floods — PM Holness
Some 215 roadways have been blocked or
badly damaged by flood events since the start of the current fiscal year in
April, resulting in a bill of some $640 million to reopen and reinstate those
thoroughfares.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the
disclosure during a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, October
1.
He noted that $84.73 million of the damage
was incurred earlier in the year.
“That is before these last two weather
events. It is important to note that the amount was voted in the 2019/20 fiscal
year for emergency repairs. We have paid out $54.75 million of that so far,”
Holness explained.
He noted that at present, “all roads have
been reopened to at least single lane, while work continues to remove blockages
from silt and landslides”.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that
with the first supplementary estimates for the 2019/20 fiscal year already
tabled, the Administration will be “re-examining the Budget that we have and do
what governments have to do, which is make priorities”.
