Welfare not a major concern for Government

WELFARE CONSIDERATIONS will not be a major focus of the Government as it moves to restore the country in the aftermath of the system which became Tropical Storm Nicole last week.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding told Parliament Tuesday that, owing to the tight fiscal space, his administration will have to focus on doing those things that are absolutely necessary.

"I am going to urge members, let us ensure that we get our priorities right because children have to go to school, people have to go to work, roads have to be fixed. Let us not allow anybody to pressure us into making this a grand opportunity for a whole heap of relief programmes," Golding said.

$10.6 billion for repairs

He was addressing Parliament in the aftermath of devastation in sections of the country brought on by the weather system last week. Golding said the emphasis of his Government would be getting the infrastructure back in place. He said preliminary assessments indicate it will cost $10.6 billion to rehabilitate damaged roads and bridges.

"It is not going to be possible to add to the $10.6 billion road damage to go and put another five or six billion of welfare programme to make everybody feel happy. That is not going to be possible," the prime minister emphasised.

Government has indicated that 170 houses suffered either total or substantial damage. Many farmers have also lost crops and livestock estimated at $500 million while fisherfolk have lost boats.