With hundreds of local government projects at a standstill, Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein has announced that funding for this financial year has finally been released to four regional corporations by the Finance Ministry.
These included the PNM-controlled San Fernando City Corporation and Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation as well as the UNC-controlled Penal/Debe and the Couva/Talparo Regional Corporations.
In an interview, Hosein could not say why the Finance Ministry took four months to release the funding needed for the day-to-day operations of the corporations.
However Hosein said 2018 will be the year for local government reform adding that he was looking forward to seeing better utilisation of unspent balances by the local government bodies.
“I want corporation officials to liaise with the people and identify projects in the area which have to be done. I want them to utilise all the monies allocated to them because too often there is unspent balances which go back to Central Government. I want the people to hold corporations more accountable,” Hosein said.
However, chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said he was disappointed that priority was not given to his region in light of the recent devastating floods.
Saying there were 20 projects under recurrent construction, Ramdharsingh said the corporation was finding it difficult to lend assistance to victims. He also said they did not have money to pay suppliers for stationary and other basic items such as chemicals for spraying.
Ramadharsingh said some suppliers have stopped giving credit to the corporation because of the delays in payments.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy said 42 roads and bridges projects are at a standstill because of the delays in releases. Sammy said because of the non payment of funds the corporation has not been effective in flood prevention.
Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Glen Ram said the corporation was owing over $200,000 in rent and he was praying that the Corporation will not be evicted.