PORT MARIA, St. Mary:
CHIEF PUBLIC Health Inspector for St. Mary, Derrick McCalla, found himself in the hot seat at the recent council meeting, with the councillors firing questions at him regarding the distribution of slabs for latrines to indigent persons.
Mr. McCalla told the St. Mary Parish Council that some of the risers had been distributed, and that councillors were required to recommend three recipients per division before any allocations can be made. He reminded the councillors that some of them were yet to submit the names of beneficiaries, and that a few of the slabs were left at health clinics.
Councillor of the Annotto Bay division, Clive Lopez was most vocal in his protest about how the distribution was being handled, noting that it was likely that the three persons he recommended might have been left off the list of recipients.
He was joined by other councillors with loud protests and shouting resulting in a five minute suspension of the meeting.
On resumption, Mr. McCalla asked that the names be submitted, and also reminded councillors that holes have to be dug and sand and cement procured as part of the project.
The recipients will get $500 from the Parish Council to assist with the building of the latrines.
The Public Health Inspector also reported on the Mosquito Control Programme. Fogging has taken place in several areas of the parish, and a balance of $10,000 was left to continue the programme, he said. Councillors were again upset as some areas had not received any fogging to eliminate the mosquito problem.
