Better drainage planned for Santa Cruz

The Government is set to undertake drainage improvement works in sections of Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, as part of efforts to reduce flood risks and safeguard livelihoods following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie gave this assurance during a tour of communities in and around Santa Cruz on Friday, where he assessed recovery efforts and infrastructure needs.

“One of the things that we are going to be doing is to work closely with the National Works Agency around the drainage situation in sections of Santa Cruz. I am proposing to engage in further discussions on that, because it is important that some serious attention be given to the drainage problem within the area, because this area carries a lot of water,” McKenzie stated. He also visited the Santa Cruz Market, where he noted improvements to Market Street, which had previously been in a state of disrepair, making it difficult for motorists to navigate. He said road-expansion and paving works had improved traffic flow and helped relocate vendors from the roadway, making the area more accessible to shoppers and businesses.