Local bodies get $8.5M

THE 14 Local Government bodies yesterday received a total of $8.5 million from the Road Improvement Fund (RIF) for projects in their respective areas. The handing over of the cheques took place yesterday at the Cascadia Hotel. Minister of Local Government Rennie Dumas said the total allocation from the RIF to the Ministry of Local Government for the financial year 2003/2004 is $23.8 million. Monies from the RIF are shared between the Local Government Ministry, the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). The fund is financed from the proceeds of an RIF tax of five percent levied on the retail price from the sale of motor vehicle fuels. Dumas said the funds were the first tranche released to the municipal bodies and were based on projects identified and selected by the corporations.
 
He said based on his visits to several regions in the country, “there must be a planned approach to the development and maintenance of infrastructure in our local communities.” Dumas added that to develop an efficient infrastructure base, the ministry’s planned infrastructure programme will also focus on the Pubic Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) which his ministry has been allocated $35 million. the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) will recieve $313 million and $50 million will go to the Infrastructure Renewal Improvement and Development (IRID) programme. Of the PSIP allocation, $24 million has already been committed said the Minister. Under the URP, which is to be re-organised to include a construction component, the Minister said $50 million has been allocated for special projects. The Minister also promised to work with the various stakeholders to have the programmes implemented.