PORT MARIA, St. Mary:
THE NEW Mayor of Port Maria Councillor Robert Montaque of the Carron Hall Division has pledged to give the town a facelift starting with the improvement of the physical appearance of the Parish Council building. It must get priority treatment to improve the appearance of the old building which will reflect that a change has come. This was part of his welcome and opening remarks at the first meeting of the new regime last Thursday.
The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce has already donated three air conditioned units, and beautification of the grounds will continue. The driveway is to be paved and the parking lot improved he said.
PRIORITIES
High on the list of priorities is the restoration of the Claude Stuart Park which also houses the cenotaph in memory of the St. Mary war veterans of the 1914-1918 World War. Funding of $200,000 is earmarked for work to be started in four weeks time, as it is the responsibility of the Council to maintain the park.
A Bailey bridge is to be erected across the Outram River which runs through the centre of the town and will ease the congestion on the main bridge which now spans the river and is in a serious state of disrepair. Improvement to the market with the upgrading of sanitary conveniences including a shower is to be effected. Vendors are to be removed off the street, as the market must be utilised. Cleaning of drains and street signs are to be erected. Regular garbage collection will be discussed with the North Eastern Parks & Market. More bins are to be placed in the town.
Revenue collection was one other area mentioned. Motor car fees and land taxes were two areas he named with drastic enforcement measures to be taken to collect arrears from land owners. Minor water supply problems will be dealt with as soon as tanks are in place. There must be signs of progress in the parish he stated.
Addressing staff members the Mayor called for quality work to be done. An upgrading of self is necessary he told members of staff and gave a 12 month ultimatum to those who are not qualified. He further stated that no victimisation will be tolerated.
Councillors were asked to work in unity, and announced that each one will get $100,000 to start their programmes of production.
Two of the councillors who were not sworn in on June 19, Michael Belnavis of the Boscobel Division and Hugh Bryan of the Annotto Bay Division were sworn in by the Mayor.
GROWTH OF THE PARISH
All councillors, eight Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and five People's National Party (PNP) pledged to work together to strive for the growth of the parish. They named some of their plans and aired problems which will be addressed at the various sub committee meetings. The Parish Council now consists of Mayor Robert Montaque Carron Hall Division (JLP), Richard Creary Deputy Mayor Richmond Division (JLP), Don Creary Castleton Division (JLP), Fitzmaurice Gray Port Maria Division (JLP), Barton Oliver Hampstead Division (JLP) , Jason James Gayle Division (JLP), Michael Belnavis Boscobel Division (JLP), Levan Freeman Bellefield Division (PNP), Cecil Palmer Islington Division (PNP), Fitz Nicholson Highgate Division (PNP), Donald Sutherland Oracabessa Division (PNP), Leon Francis Retreat Division (PNP) and Hugh Bryan Annotto Bay Division (JLP).
