Legislators from both sides of the House were recently in full agreement that the Government should get involved in a matter at a George Town Strata property - even though it would usually be considered abnormal for an administration to intercede in an issue involving a private entity.

On 3 August 2006 when Opposition Members of the Legislative Assembly heard the Government's request for $320,000 for a new wastewater treatment system - one that would arrest a problem that was threatening public health and safety - they gave an unhesitating nod.

The Minister in charge of the matter, Hon Arden McLean - Minister of Communications, Works and Infrastructure, explained that the wastewater treatment system was needed at the 80 unit Randyke Gardens Properties, where a sewerage system problem had existed for some time and had worsened since Hurricane Ivan.

Speaking amongst legislators in Finance Committee meeting, Mr McLean described the current Randyke situation as "disturbing," and passed around photos of scenes that gave evidence of the sewerage problem.

The matter was first raised by Financial Secretary, Hon Kenneth Jefferson, when he presented the Supplementary Annual Plan and Estimates for the Government for the Financial Year ended 30 June 2007, to the House.

The Randyke matter was one of two important items for additional funds in Mr Jefferson's Report.

Legislators across the Assembly were united in not only approving the funds for the sewerage treatment plant at Randyke Properties, but also, in moving swiftly on the matter.

A loan from the Government to the Strata was an uncommon move on the Government's part and Mr Jefferson was the first to address that point.

He assured the Legislative Opposition that Government was not in the business of interceding in private businesses.

"We really do not intend to (accede to) repeated requests to assist private entities. But, in this instance, it is sufficiently grave for the Government to intercede," he said.

It was Mr McLean who outlined the gravity of the situation at the housing development.

He made reference to a letter from the Water Authority to a law firm here, dated 31 May1992, that spoke of a water problem.

Mr McLean said that that date was not long after the property was built adding that for many years, the Water Authority had been trying to work with the Randyke Strata 155 Block 20E, Parcel 310 to assist them with a failed water treatment system.

"The system had failed many years ago and since then, the DEH (Department of Environmental Health) and the Water Authority, has been trying to help them improve it," the Minister said.

Mr McLean included in his presentation, other problems the development was experiencing - such as, "uncollected Receivables amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars" - explaining that it was nigh impossible for the Development to come up with the funds needed to arrest the problem.

Mr McLean said the matter was now a health hazard to children living in that community.

"In May, after the Water Authority had requested, through the Permanent Secretary, to engage the Attorney General to do something, because the Authority was no longer able to get anything done, and was recommending prosecution, the Attorney General recommended that one more attempt be made through the Ministry, to see what could be done to assist in resolving the matter," he said.

Mr McLean added that elements such as the threat of disease and, of the locale becoming a public hazard, were considered alongside the Government's "responsibility to ensure that public safety is protected."

He said that public safety related to residents and visitors alike.

Mr McLean revealed that in trying to rationalise an approach to solving the matter, he met with Randyke owners and Executive Committee members, as well as George Town MLAs, and discussed the possibility of "dealing with the situation without the Government's involvement."

Mr McLean said that Randyke's financial demise involved needing over $300,000 to address the problem, while having the same amount outstanding in Receivables, along with a "payables" list amounting to over $100,000.

Realising that Government's help would be needed, Mr McLean said that an arrangement involving the Attorney General signing an agreement for the repayment of the money, on loan, was looked at.

This was the juncture at which Randyke's repayment options were scrutinised.

Mr McLean said the first option was to have monthly repayment sums included on Randyke's water bills.

"However, we realised the Water Authority had no authority to do that so that was scrapped," he said.

As for the Strata repaying the money directly, immediately, the Government realised that the development was buckling, cash wise, - what with, the Strata "trying to sell" some apartments that were "abandoned."

With all that, the Government decided it would settle for getting back the money from the Strata's proprietors "in a timely fashion."

Mr McLean said that the Government would not be making a habit of this type of assistance.

He also revealed that the arrangement had the Attorney General's blessing.

"The Attorney General is more than comfortable with it being done this way, and prefers this to prosecuting."

Leader of the Opposition, McKeeva Bush, was emphatic about his team's support in the matter.

"The Government has a duty to step in. From our side, we have no problem with it," he said.

Mr Bush even went further to say that a repayment plan should not be a focus at this time. "The people of Randyke Gardens are poor people.

We understand that they're trying to find a way to pay back the money, and we think this is commendable."

North Side MLA, Edna Moyle, picked up on Mr Bush's line of argument and said that based on Mr McLean's presentations, the problem has "major" implications for public health.

"So should we be sitting here trying to work out the details of repayment or voting on solving this problem?"

Mr McLean said that he viewed the two Ministers' comments as an indication that they would approve the monies even without a repayment plan.

Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts said that the purpose of the deliberations was to authorise the money for the work that needed to be done.

Adding her voice of support to the matter, the Opposition's Sister Islands MLA, Juliana O'Connor Connolly moved the discussion back to the repayment issue - saying this would be difficult for Randyke and giving her support for going ahead without repayment plans in place.

She said the money was "a relatively insignificant amount" when compared with Government's "surplus position."

She mentioned Randyke's Receivables and Payables problems. "It's so messy for the Government to have an unsecured loan. So, if the reason is in the interest of public health and safety, then..." she concluded.

Opposition MLA for West Bay, Rolston Anglin, highlighted the importance of standards for "proper sewerage plants" set by the Government.

"A lot of developers want to cut this corner, but these pictures (referring to the ones Mr McLean passed around) tell the story of why we need them (proper plants)," he said.

The LA formally approved the sum for Randyke Properties in the 3 August 2006 afternoon session.