C&W tower raises tempers in Manchester
published: Wednesday | June 23, 2004

By Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

CABLE AND Wireless (C&W) has found itself in hot water with residents of Brumalia and West Roads in Mandeville who are 'furious', according to one home owner, about the construction of a cellular tower in their community.

This has prompted a decision by officials of the Manchester Parish Council to take steps to halt the construction of the facility until the matter has been investigated.

The residents held a meeting recently at the Wesley Road Methodist Church with members of the Manchester Parish Council at which time they sought answers to why C&W was given approval for the construction of the towers without consulting them.

However, both Mayor Desmond Harrison and Secretary Manager of the Manchester Parish Council, Winston Palmer told the group that the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) had carried out a survey of the residents and there was little objection noted. This they said influenced the Council to give the green light for the tower to be constructed.

This disclosure angered the residents who claimed that they were not aware of such a survey and demanded to know when was it done and the name of the residents NEPA surveyed. Residents claimed that the tower, which is designed like a tall palm tree, went up almost overnight, and was not easily identified.

At the end of the meeting Mayor Desmond Harrison assured citizens that the Parish Council would be taking immediate steps to halt further work on the tower, which will require the issuance of a stop order.

Digicel, another mobile phone service provider, also found itself in trouble with the residents of Ingleside and the Manchester Parish Council some years ago when it too built a tower in that community without their approval. Digicel however complied with the legal requirements and was allowed to complete construction of its tower.

According to the Council's Secretary Manager, Winston Palmer, this is the problem faced by rural authorities when people in Kingston make decisions for those in the rural parishes.