Election 2002 Home » News
»
JLP raises concern about projects
A
JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) team which toured sections of the
Southeast Clarendon constituency last Wednesday, noted serious
concerns among residents about problems associated with two
ongoing government projects in the constituency.
The
touring group, led by Central Clarendon MP Mike Henry and
including JLP candidate for Southeast Clarendon, Ruddy Spencer,
noted that major reconstruction work which had started suddenly
on the Chateau main road recently, was being hastily done
without the required engineering supervision, resulting in
great inconvenience and danger to private property in the
area.
Mr.
Henry contended that while the MP for Southeast Clarendon
had for some time been casting blame on him (Henry) for the
delays in getting work started on the project, which is located
on the border of the two constituencies, the work had been
suddenly started ahead of the upcoming polls, without any
finalisation of the necessary engineering input.
The
resultant problems, noted the JLP team, included a situation
where sections of the roadway had been lifted too high, leading
to serious concerns about water flow into homes in the area,
and about other drainage needs, including the requirement
for a ditch basin to be installed. Additionally, there were
concerns that the new roadway was being extended to the fringes
of walls, light poles and residences in general, along its
path, with no consultation with the citizens to be affected.
A
letter dated September 15, 2002 and signed by a number of
the affected citizens of the area, was presented to the JLP
team.
In
response, Mr. Henry told the residents that their concerns
would be taken up by his party, as the JLP's position on road
construction, as was outlined in its manifesto, was that before
a road is fixed, the relevant engineering studies, including
drainage needs, should be completed. He called for an urgent
revisit of the engineering aspects of the project.
In
another area of the constituency, the JLP team noted that
a pipeline laid long ago from the Twin Palms well through
various areas leading up into Moores district was still without
water. Mr. Henry questioned if that situation was another
example of the Government's "lick and promise" approach
to public administration.
"Is
this because the NWC's (National Water Commission) revenues
are so down that they can only pay for labour and are unable
to fund any capital development?" questioned the MP.
He noted that a similar situation arose recently, in which
the NWC had problems completing a water supply project in
the Central Clarendon constituency.
|