TRANSPORT Minister Mike Henry says he will be making a submission to Cabinet and later a statement to Parliament on the report about the December 19 Portland accident which killed
14 Jamaicans.

Henry said Thursday that he had received reports from both the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) and the Road Safety Unit of his ministry, on the accident.

Details of the reports were not made available, however, sources said it dealt with issues such as the experience and capability of the truck driver. The reports also dealt with the source of the accident, the road conditions and whether or not the vehicle was overloaded, the source said.

In the meantime, Henry, who has visited the accident scene on more than one occasion, has promised residents improvements to the road infrastructure in the rural parish, including the construction of a new bridge to replace the old Alligator Church Bridge.

However, he admitted at Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that there was a resource problem, and suggested a joint effort with the Members of Parliament through their Constituency Development Fund resources.

Henry said that the area has great agricultural and ecological potential which should support infrastructural development.

Tragedy struck in Dam Bridge, Rio Grande Valley on December 19, when a truck with vendors travelling to the Coronation Market in Kingston plunged 30 metres over a precipice. Fourteen people were killed and several others were injured. The dead are from the districts of Millbank, Comfort Castle, Ginger Castle and Seaman's Valley.

The Government has assisted with the burial of the victims and has established a fund to provide long-term financial assistance to about 50 children who lost their parents.

Christopher Clarke, the 31-year-old mechanic/driver was charged by the Port Antonio police with 14 counts of manslaughter, driving without insurance, operating contrary to a driver's licence, and failing to report an accident. Clarke, who had fled the accident scene, turned himself in to the police on December 30.