MINISTER of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie says the island's municipal corporations will be rolling out the first phase of their disaster risk mitigation programme in two weeks, for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1.

Speaking at a digital town hall meeting from his mnistry on Thursday, McKenzie said the programme is geared towards the comprehensive cleaning of drains and gullies managed by municipal corporations.

He said the initiative will coincide with a national drain-cleaning programme announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a virtual meeting of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, on Wednesday.

“The municipal corporations are now in the process of rolling out the first phase of their mitigation programme, which is to commence shortly... [and] will be supported by the National Works Agency,” McKenzie said.

Additionally, McKenzie pointed out that a virtual meeting will be held with the island's mayors and parish disaster coordinators, “to look at how extensive and how advanced the plans are for the upcoming hurricane season”.