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by pltm
(PLTM) - The 2019/2020 budget that is yet to be passed in the House of Assembly contains money for the East End/Long Look Sewage Project which has been stalled for years. The announcement of the fund allotment and intent to finally rectify the situation was made by Minister and Seventh District Representative Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley.
Speaking at a District meeting on November 27, Hon. Wheatley, who is the Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture announced that the plans are being made to finally address the sewage situation that for more than ten years has plagued both the Seventh and Eighth Districts.
Hon. Wheatley told his constituents, “Money has been budgeted for continuing work on the East End Sewerage Project – between two and three million is budgeted in this budget which has to be passed for the project. The design and full scoping works for the project are ready and work will commence in 2020. This is a victory for the people of the Seventh District who have suffered from sewage in the street for many years.”
The Seventh District Representative took note that funding previously earmarked for the project was used for other purposes. In rehashing the matter, Hon. Wheatley declared, “Of course, we all know, and it’s been well publicized that $8M that was earmarked for sewage works in East End and Long Look was taken and given to the Ports for the Pier Park. Since then of course the persons in our community have had to live with the sewage problems.”
He noted that the prolonged sewage issues have caused problems such as road deterioration and health risk concerns.
“The sewage problems have additional problems that’s created with it besides the obvious health problems and the smell and the unsanitary conditions. It also affects our roads. Our roads have suffered due to the stoppage of the sewage project,” Hon. Wheatley stated.
While noting the need to fix the road, Hon. Wheatley mentioned that the money allocated in this budget is not enough for all that needs to be done.
“After the sewage project work is completed; which we don’t have all the monies budgeted for this year, but we will be able to make some significant progress. We can move from the situation of temporary patching to a more permanent solution or a proper fix for the roads. Of course, we know the temporary situation only lasts some weeks before it’s destroyed and you have to go through the whole process again,” he added.
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