MINISTER of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen has estimated debts at regional corporations to be over a billion dollars.

After a meeting with mayors and other regional corporation officials yesterday, Ameen said that although money was allocated in the past, it was not being released by the previous government.

Speaking outside the San Fernando City Corporation’s Auditorium, she said that yesterday’s meeting was a normal administrative exercise she started having before the mid-year review and budget. She added, however, there were a number of issues in local government going back years.