By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
IT HAS been two years since some ten families has taken up residence in the Operation Pride Housing Scheme in Luana, St. Elizabeth, but to date, the scheme is yet to have a formal sewage system.
As the families continue to exist without this much needed facility, health conscious persons, who are aware of the situation are asking pertinent questions such as, where does the effluent that is being generated by the residents go? How is it being treated? And aren't the residents being exposed to serious public health risks?
In a recent interview, the Rev. Audley Black, the vice chairman of the Luana Providence Society, told The Gleaner that as a member of the society, he wants to know what is preventing the building of a sewage system for the Luana Project. He said the issue is again on the agenda of an upcoming meeting of the providence society.
"We were not happy with the way the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), and the other agencies were changing things back and forth, sometimes without our knowledge," said Rev. Black, in citing their long standing concern about the Luana Scheme. "I think this and other things led to the sudden resignation of Mr. Joseph Caine, the former chairman of the Providence Society."
However, the honourable Donald Buchanan, the Minister of Water and Housing, said the fact that only ten houses were occupied at the scheme, which will ultimately have 140 houses, the need for the sewage system was not greatly pronounced at this time. However, he did promise that sewage system (plant) would be completed by the end of the year.
While not slighting Minister Buchanan's promise, Rev. Black said members of the Providence Society felt pressure because of the bureaucratic barriers they regular face in their attempts to get suitable answers from the authorities. He is now anxiously waiting to see the latest promise will be kept.
Attempts by The Gleaner to solicit a comment on the situation from some of the families now living at Luana were ignored, giving the impression that the residents were quite embarrassed by the situation under which they are forced to live.
