McKenzie dispels 'misinterpretation' concerning SPARK programme

 

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has sought to dispel what he describes as misinterpretation about the disbursement of funds under the government's 'Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network' (SPARK) Programme.

 

Some $40 billion is earmarked under the initiative to be spent on improving more than 2,000 roads islandwide.

 

Speaking Thursday at the installation ceremony for councillors and mayor in the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, Mr. McKenzie explained that majority of the roads would fall under the responsibility of the local authorities.

 

He also reiterated that residents will have a say in deciding which roads receive attention under the programme.     

 

"The citizens in the community will have a stake in how their community roads and other roads are dealt with. We're not putting $40 billion in the hands of elected representatives for them to make political decisions on roads. The road that you live and drive on don't have any colour," he insisted. 

 

 

The minister also announced that multi-million dollar allocations will be made available to municipal corporations for the cleaning of public cemeteries across the country.

 

He explained that some of the complaints about lack of space at some public cemeteries can be attributed to years of poor or inadequate maintenance. 

 

"...For decades no significant work has been done to clean our public cemeteries. The first in a drawdown of some $200 million will be made available as soon as the new administration settle down for the cleaning of public cemeteries right across the country, so we can have a greater knowledge as to the state of public cemeteries," Mr. McKenzie acknowledged.

 

There are 35 public cemeteries across the island.