The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net STARTING today, the government will go door-to-door asking those affected by the ongoing road works to detail their losses ahead of a massive repayment scheme, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced last night. Businesses on Baillou Hill Road, Market Street and Prince Charles Drive will be the first in the assessment. Speaking to FNM supporters, Mr Ingraham said through this initiative, the government will compile information, including the businesses' expenses, revenue, profits, accounts receivables and payables during the period 2007 to 2011. "Businesses that are in operation as well as any that may have closed temporarily as a result of the roadwork will be included in the survey. "The results of the survey will help us determine how best we might lend economic or financial assistance to those business establishments adversely impacted by the works," Mr Ingraham said. Ministry of Finance employees will visit the businesses throughout New Providence on roads where major roadwork is being done and their connecting side streets, to hand out the surveys. Mr Ingraham said the surveying is expected to last two weeks. The business owners then have one week to complete the surveys, and gather supporting documents, before the Ministry collects them. In the weeks to follow, Mr Ingraham said the information will be analysed and decisions made on the assistance to be given. Two weeks ago, Mr Ingraham told parliamentarians that an independent review would be conducted into the government's administration of the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project (NPIIP) which he described as having been "vexing and torturous" to drivers. "There is no doubt that the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project is a major investment of enormous benefit to the people of New Providence." "Apart from LPIA, it is the largest capital project undertaken by the government. It is my view, however, that it has been vexing and torturous, and so I have determined that it would be appropriate to have an independent review of Government's administration of the project. The report will be made public so that appropriate lessons may be learnt from the experience, and inform public policy in the future," Mr Ingraham said.