Parliament updated on relief measures taken after disasters

Parliament was presented with an update on Tuesday, May 24, of the measures being taken to address the damage caused by Hurricane Tomas in October last year, and a trough system that affected the northern section of the country on April 11 and 12, 2011.{{more}}

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced that the main bridges at Byera and Basin Hole have been temporarily restored. He said work has also been carried out on roads and bridges in Congo Valley and Perseverance.

According to the Prime Minister, his administration has also provided assistance for work to be carried out on houses affected by the storms, “but the problem is huge.”

He reiterated that following the passage of Hurricane Tomas, this country received about $9 million from Venezuela to assist with housing as well as $5million worth of building material from the Jamaican company, Tank-Weld.

He said the Housing and Land Development Corporation (HLDC) has since received requests from persons seeking help on their homes amounting to $41 million.

“The truth is this: the Government can’t solve, I can’t solve a $41 million problem in Housing,” said Gonsalves.

He said that he has asked that the homes in terrible condition be catered for in the first instance, with resources of about $5million. He said this is a practical figure for which he will be able to raise the necessary funds.

“You can’t ask me to deal with a $41 million problem in those circumstances, because there’s simply the issue of a scarcity of resources,” said Gonsalves.

Gonsalves used the opportunity to tell persons who had scoffed at his estimation of “tens of millions of dollars” that officials had presented their own estimation that has confirmed his.

He said practical projects such as roads and bridges are estimated to cost in the interim in excess of $45 million, and Forestry, $52 million.

Disclosing the source of funding to help address the problem, Gonsalves said he has a loan project of US$12 million which will be put forward to the Caribbean Development Bank in July, a soft loan from the World Bank, as well as money from the IMF. Gonsalves said before the end of this week, the Government is expecting to receive Budget Support from the European Union of about $14 to $15 million.

He said his administration recently received a US$2million grant from Taiwan and “have unlocked US$8 in loans”.

The Qatari government, he said, has presented his administration with a grant of US$1 million, and it has received monies from Australia, Brazil, Libya, The Mustique Company, and LIME. He said his administration will also be receiving a loan of US$20 million from the ALBA Bank. (HN)