From left, Gallimore, and Blair
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
THE HERRO Blair-led Peace Management Initiative (PMI) will this week attempt to broker a peace pact between warring factions in Temple Hall, rural St. Andrew, over the distribution of work under a $100-million roadwork contract.
Less than two weeks ago three men were killed after negotiations over the distribution of work to fix the roadway between Tom's River and Stony Hill went sour.
"All I can say is that we have met with the key players involved (with the project) and we will be in the area next week," said Bishop Blair, noting that he is hoping to come away with a solution to the work distribution problem by Friday.
The three men killed in the dispute reportedly had links to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and The Sunday Gleaner understands that since the death of the men, tension has heightened over further distribution of the roadwork. Questions are also being raised as to who was responsible for the deaths, further increasing the tension.
JLP Member of Parliament, Andrew Gallimore, who identified the victims as party supporters, said the men were invited to discuss roadwork. Instead they were killed by their assailants.
RAISED CONCERNS
Manager of Communications and Customer Service at the National Works Agency (NWA), Vando Palmer, pointed out to The Sunday Gleaner last week that the contractor also raised concerns in the meeting with the PMI head that persons were speculating about his (the contractor's) role in the events.
"The contractor wants everyone to know he had nothing to do with it," said Mr. Palmer.
Mr. Palmer said it has also been agreed that no further work would be carried out on the project until after the dead men were buried, the community given some time to heal and the contractor assured of his and his workers' safety.
"It was felt that because of what happened, we would allow for a little healing before we restart the project," said Mr. Palmer.
The contractor was unavailable for comments last week.
It was also pointed out that while the NWA had no problems with the previous workers, anyone expected to work on the project would have to meet certain criteria.
Among other things, the workers must:
Be Jamaican Have the required skills, and Be willing to come to work on time and work for a fair day's pay.Meanwhile, the Stony Hill police have been maintaining a strong presence in the Temple Hall area along with the Special Anti-Crime Task Force (SACTF).
The Constant Spring police said they were yet to make an arrest in the killing of the men, as witnesses to the shooting were reluctant to come forward and give proper statements to the police.
