Black Mallet to be Declared a Disaster Area

Contact: Janelle Charles

November 17, 1999 - Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony says Government will soon declare the Black Mallet/Maynard Hill area, where the earth is slipping at two and a half inches per day, an Enforcement Area.

The Prime Minister Anthony told residents Monday night , at a meeting at the N.I.S. Conference Center, that this was in response to complaints of theft of property in the areas residents has evacuated . He told residents that Government was moving speedily to address that concern. "Very soon, apart from declaring it a disaster area, we are going to declare it an enforcement area" the Prime Minister revealed. The Prime Minister will hold talks with the Police shortly to ensure the protection of personal property.

Within the next two weeks government is expected to received a report detailing the reasons for the land slippage in the Black/Mallet area.

In the meantime, the Caribbean Development Bank has already approved five hundred thousand U.S dollars to assist with the Black Mallet/Maynard Hill relocation exercise. Government also intends to seek additional funding from the CDB to continue its work in that area.

Twenty five families have already been re-located since the land slippage began in early October, but the Prime Minister has assured residents that Government will continue its support of persons affected by the land slippage. "Irrespective of what the experts explanations are for the cause of the earth movements, this Government will assist", Dr. Anthony assured residents.

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