Price tag set on pond repairs for 'St Bess'
published: Friday | November 25, 2005

Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer


IT WILL cost the Government an estimated $37 million to bring a lasting solution to the overflowing of several ponds in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, which has resulted in nearby homes being flooded on a regular basis in recent years.

That is the figure disclosed by Dean Peart, Minister of Land and Environment, who has been spearheading efforts to correct the problem.

In the latest and most severe incident, during the passage of Hurricane Wilma last month, dozens of families in Great Bay and a few in Calabash Bay were forced to flee their homes, as heavy rains sent the water levels in Great Pond and Long Pond rising beyond the established confines of the ponds, flooding nearby roads and homes.

Many families have not yet been able to return home.

Following detailed examination of the situation by experts sent into the community by the land and environment ministry, a recommendation was submitted to Cabinet, and, according to Peart, there is now consensus on the way forward.

He said the solution arrived at was to build canals linking all the ponds in a single network, which would then be drained into the sea via larger canals.

That approach would also be in keeping with recommendations that have emanated from community groups such as the Treasure Beach Foundation, and the Great Bay Development Association.

"The Member of Parliament for the area, Donald Buchanan, and I have proposed that the Treasure Beach situation be given priority treatment, and so that project is to be placed on a short list for quick action along with Mandela Highway and Big Pond in St. Catherine," Mr. Peart said.

He added that the package of three priority projects is to be submitted for Cabinet approval on December 5.

It is about time that this project is started, without budget overrun in capital funding, and no greasing of palms to any contractors, who may or may not be in cohort with the politicians. A qualified, respoonsible and budget minded engineer is needed for this project a company that have proven them-self in some and all of their works with some of the Parishes and the Government.
While we are at it, lets get all the erosion,and drainages contiguous to the road, work on, in the least, to last more than one hurricane season.
Let all good citizen of Treasure Beach, Calabash Beach, Great Bay and all of the St. Elizabeth put pressure on their representatives to act on this NOW, we put them there to work for us and so they must.
Each household that have a phone set should make a call, people without should write letters and please for the good of everyone, keep the pressure until we see the success of this project although in its infancy.The daily newspapes and other news outlets need to support us, with their constant viligancy and write-ups, just as Mr. Earl Moxam has done here.My hats off to you.
Let us hope we solve this recurring problem once and for all.
Good luck to us all. and to the politicians who will come hat in hands for our votes, comes next election. Please tell them we will remember this and not the flour, rice, cornmeal and oil.

Is this US $ or JA $?

Since its listed in a Jamaican newspaper and is not marked as US$, its safe to assume they're talking about Jamaican currency.

-TBNet