PORT MARIA, St Mary — St Mary councillors are being urged to spend public funds wisely in the hope of minimising damage from flooding during the Atlantic hurricane season now underway and runs until November 30.

Chairman of the St Mary Municipal Corporation Richard Creary made the appeal during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the corporation. His comments came after he announced that Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie has promised to make funds available for drain cleaning in the 13 divisions across this north-eastern parish.

“Mr McKenzie, in a meeting we had recently, said $600,000 will be made available by the end of this month to all parish council divisions to do special drain cleaning for the hurricane season. That is something that councillors can, in the meantime, pencil out programmes for,” Creary suggested.

He continued: “I must implore councillors to use these funds to clean those critical drains — and it is specifically for drain cleaning. Use the funds wisely; use them for those drains that would create hazards for our citizens.”

In February of this year more than 90 per cent of businesses and homes in Port Maria were inundated by flood waters as torrential rainfall drenched sections of St Mary. More than 100 businesses had to shutter their doors for a day. There was also a massive pile-up of traffic outside the flood-hit town centre, and several commuters were stranded.

The flood waters, which people in Port Maria said appeared fast and strong, also trapped people inside some buildings. At Port Maria Primary School, members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade had to assist in evacuating students and some members of staff.

During last Thursday’s meeting Creary urged councillors to be mindful that the hurricane season is predicted to be “a very active one”.

The corporation itself has some preparation to do. A power generator that was expected to be installed before the season began is still not in place.

Creary said funds had been made available to acquire the vital piece of equipment.

“Let us hasten the process and try and have it [installed].