A minimum of $19 million has been allocated to each constituency under the Government’s Constituency Mitigation Programme.

Previously referred to as the Christmas Work Programme, the funds are being made available early this year.

Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, made the announcement during Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. He said the money will be spent for road repairs, de-bushing, drain cleaning, beautification and sanitation. A minimum of $10 million must be spent on road repairs, which includes patching. A minimum of 50 per cent of that amount must be spent on main roads.

“Up to $5 million may be transferred into road rehabilitation from other eligible components, subject to their respective limits. The maximum available under the road component is therefore $15 million per constituency,” said Morgan.

The works minister said $4 million is set aside for the de-bushing component of the programme. This covers cutting and pruning trees, foliage, bush and undergrowth along roadways, pathways, sidewalks, medians, gully banks and other thoroughfares where overgrowth impedes movement or creates a safety or security risk.

Morgan said a maximum of $2 million may be transferred from de-bushing to road repairs or drain cleaning. At least $2 million must remain allocated for de-bushing.

Drain cleaning has been allocated $2 million per constituency. This includes cleaning, unclogging and desilting earth or paved drains. It also permits minor repairs to drain inverts, walls, culverts, grilles and covers so that storm water can flow freely.

The programme permits a maximum of $1 million to be reallocated from this component to other components. That leaves a minimum of $1 million committed to drain cleaning.

“Members should consider any proposed transfer carefully, taking account of the drainage needs that will remain. Flexibility must be exercised with a clear understanding of the consequences for the communities concerned,” Morgan told his fellow Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, $3 million per constituency is allocated to beautification and sanitation, to be implemented by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). The work includes collecting and trucking municipal and bulky waste to approved disposal sites, and washing down or otherwise sanitising areas that may pose a health or safety risk.

Morgan said the $3 million allocation is fixed.

“No funds may be transferred out of this component, and no funds may be transferred into it. The full allocation must be used for its stated purpose,” he said.

Implementation will be undertaken by the National Works Agency (NWA) and the NSWMA. The NWA will implement road repairs, de-bushing and drain cleaning, while the NSWMA will implement beautification and sanitation.

-Lynford Simpson