Kingston, Jamaica, April 6, 2005 (JIS) - A sum of $40 million will be disbursed over the next six weeks to deal with the severe drought conditions currently affecting the island, as well as the spate of bush fires being experienced nationwide.

Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman who made this announcement on April 4, at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, informed that the money would provide for extended pumping operations; deal with public education; monitor water levels; and for the Meteorological Office to deal with emergency data collection and analysis. 

“It will also provide funding for the rapid response unit to enable them to truck water and also to the Parish Councils, and the farmers will also receive some assistance where their crops have been affected by the drought itself or by bush fires,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that of the $40 million, the Rapid Response Unit would be getting  about $8 million for direct trucking  of water, while  the Parish Councils would receive some $15 million. He added that the assistance to farmers would be in the form of fertilizer and seeds.

“As time passes, the situation will be kept under constant review and no doubt whatever response is needed, will in fact be proposed and made,” Senator Whiteman said.

He noted that in February, $12 million was also allocated by Cabinet to assist with the trucking of water in six parishes identified as being the worst affected; provide assistance to farmers who lost crops as a result of the bush fires; and to begin a public education programme.

In light of the increased reports of water shortage and bush fires as well as the on-going drought, Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart; Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, Portia Simpson-Miller met last week to explore some long-term measures to alleviate the situation. 

Senator Whiteman said measures considered at the meeting included the rehabilitation of community rainwater catchment tanks to trap rainwater runoff; the strengthening of the data collection and forecasting capacity of the Meteorological Office; and a general increase of the storage capacity in the island

For further information about this news item contact the Overseas Department at overseas@jis.gov.jm. Visit the Jamaica Information Service web site at www.jis.gov.jm

Telephone: (876) 926-3740-6 / 926-3590-8, Fax:  (876) 926-6715