By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
Portia Simpson Miller, the Minister of Local Government, signs the contract for the road rehabilitation programme, which is set to commence in St. James under the Parish Infrastructure Development Programme. Participating in the signing ceremony are contractors for the projects and Parish Councillors. - Patrick Campbell/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE JAMAICA National Building Society (JNBS) has donated $10,000 towards the war the Hanover Health Department has declared on the rat population in the town of Lucea, which has seen the rodents taking charge of the derelict buildings and drains in the town.
In handing over the cheque to Derrick Storer, the Chief Public Health Inspector for Hanover, Manager of the JNBS Lucea branch, Ryan Morrison, who is also President of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, said the business community in Lucea needs to play a pivotal role in ridding the town of the rats, which are widely considered a health risk and a nuisance to residents.
"It is for us the business people here in Lucea to put our best foot forward as we are the ones inviting people to come to Hanover to do business," Morrison said in an interview with The Gleaner earlier this week. "Without business, the economy cannot grow. Somebody has to start and Jamaica National has taken the lead and we think that it is the right step to make."
INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITY
Mr. Morrison stated that as good corporate citizens, JNBS sees itself as an integral part of the Lucea community and as such, he thinks that if there is a problem in the community, the organisation has a responsibility to step in and offer whatever assistance it can.
"We are good corporate citizens here," said Mr. Morrison. "We do business here, our savers live in the community and we are part of the community. Once there is a problem in the community, it must be a problem for Jamaica National too."
In explaining the extent of Lucea's rat infestation problem, Mr. Morrison said the situation had gotten so bad that, "it got a front page lead story in The Gleaner." He added that if the establishments in the town are going to tell people to conduct business there, then there is a need for them to make the town a more presentable place.
For several years, the town of Lucea has had a serious rat infestation problem. Within recent times, things have gotten progressively worse with the opening of several food establishments and supermarkets. The improper disposal of garbage is also being blamed for the problem.
At present, the town's dirty drains, some supermarkets and the now defunct Cliff Theatre are being viewed as the main breeding grounds for the rats.
During the first half of this year, the Hanover Parish Council and the Hanover Health Department drew much criticism from the Hanover Parish Development Committee (HPDC), which condemned both organisations for not doing enough to contain the rat problem.
At the time, the HPDC called on Storer and the then Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Lloyd Hill, to jointly tackle the rat problem by serving notices on the owners of the derelict buildings and food establishments, which were contributing to the problem.
