Portland PC calls for audit of €33m
Published:Wednesday | February 16, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
COUNCILLORS AT the Portland Parish Council are urging the Ministry of Water and Housing to conduct an audit into the whereabouts of €33 million donated by the European Union (EU) nearly seven years ago to construct a central water drainage and sewerage in Port Antonio.
The directors at last Thursday's monthly council meeting contended that since the money was earmarked to be spent in the parish, it should not be diverted elsewhere. They are also demanding answers from the National Water Commission (NWC) - the watchdog of the project.
"This project was launched in Portland," said Rupert Kelly, former mayor and councillor of the Hope Bay division.
"The amount provided by the EU was approximately €33 million, and since the project is yet to start after all this time, we are simply asking where is the money? I am recommending that we send a letter to the permanent secretary and the minister of water and housing to conduct an audit into the whereabouts of those funds."
A series of tests and consult-ations were organised and carried out by the NWC ahead of the expected start of the project, which would result in the entire sewage and domestic water supply being connected into one central system for Port Antonio.
Long overdue
Kelly said the project is long overdue. He said if it has been scrapped, the money should be accounted for. He added that it would be unfair for such funds to be channelled elsewhere to other projects.
Meanwhile, mayor of Port Antonio, Floyd Patterson, supported the call for a letter to be sent to the permanent secretary for an audit to be conducted.
According to the mayor, certain developments scheduled to take place in the parish were put on hold, as it was advised that central water, sewerage and drainage projects had to be completed before any further development could be undertaken.
"Development plans for tourism were put on hold," said Mayor Patterson. "We were advised that any future development would feed off the central water sewerage project."