Arscott demands answers on $17-m drain cleaning in Clarendon
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government, Noel Arscott said Jamaicans need answers on the $17-million drain cleaning exercise undertaken by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, just prior to recent rains that resulted in heavy flooding in the parish.
Arscott, who was yesterday making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, stated that the $17million was in addition to the $800 million Island wide, bushing/drain cleaning programme on the eve of the Local Government Elections.In demanding transparency from Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, Arscott raised the questions: how much of this amount was spent in Clarendon and where were the drains cleaned? Did we get value for money or was this a ploy to distribute state resources to party faithfuls? “The minister talks a lot about transforming Local Government; lip service will not do it.Transforming local government is about transparency, integrity, accountability and fairness at all levels,” Arscott stated.In his preliminary report, Mckenzie stated that damage to the island’s road network and other infrastructure from heavy rains in April has been put at close to half-a-billion dollars with Clarendon, St Catherine and St Elizabeth having the most damage.