PHIILIPSBURG--Several clogged trenches and waterways can now be cleared of debris or overgrown bushes with the unanimous approval of NAf. 212,110 by the Island Council on Thursday night. An emergency cleaning reserve of NAf 25,000 was also approved.

Public Works Commissioner William Marlin said, "We are already in midst of the hurricane season and have already experienced our first hurricane; we were spared too much serious flooding."

He said due to "lack of proper maintenance" in the past, the trenches and waterways slated for cleaning had become "clogged or partially clogged" posing a flooding threat in time of heavy rains.

The clean-up work will be supervised by the Public Works Department. Island Council approval was necessary because no public bid had taken place for the work and the amount needed exceeded the NAf. 25,000 threshold. The work will go to several local contractors.

Slated to be cleared are the trenches next to Sundial School, in front of the police homes, by Government Administration Building, by the hospital and on Bush Road in the vicinity of Ernest Hotel, close to Fatum Insurances, Zagersgut, Guadeloupe Road/St. Maarten Cable TV, in Cay Bay and Oyster Pond, Ground Dove Road and the one close to Prins Willem Alexander School, among others.