THE EDITOR, Sir:I READ with more than passing interest, the article 'Political interference halts road project' by George Henry, in The Gleaner, Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Mr. Henry, who has written a previous article highlighting the plight of the Rock residents who use the road from Osbourne Store to Ashley, may be excused because he is writing from Spaldings; but this is why he should have done some investigation on the ground before submitting the article.
Let me give some basic information about this road that I have been pleading with the authorities, and writing and speaking publicly about it for over 10 years in an effort to get the road fixed. This road from Osborne Store to Ashley goes through Rock, Darlow, and Bagatelle. The transport operators who ply the Ashley to May Pen route use this road. The Rock to Bagatelle section of the road divides the Toll Gate and the Mocho Parish Council divisions and North Central and South West constituencies. Therefore, there are two Councillors and two Members of Parliament who should have an interest in this road.
The section of the road which has received a little protracted, divided, sporadic attention does not represent 25 per cent of the road from Osborne to Ashley, Therefore the statement in the above-mentioned article by Mr. Palmer noted that the road work which is now 50 per cent complete lacks veracity. Those of us who have to use this road have been patiently waiting because we thought that the passing of Hurricane Ivan caused further delay in fixing this road.
The excuse that the work stoppage is due to political interference from Joel Williams, is quite lame and leads me to wonder what is the real reason. What is wrong with Mr. Williams asking the contractor to employ someone from the area with a truck? The National Works Agency chose to stop the work for reasons best known to them.
Where is the Member of Parliament for South West Clarendon in whose constituency this part of the road falls? Why have the other councillor and the other Member of Parliament in whose division and constituency the Rock to Ashley section of the road falls been silent on this matter? Where does the buck stop? Who is really in charge? Who will see to the resumption and completion of work on this road? The users of this road are the ones who suffer. We the citizens of Rock, Darlow, Bagatelle, Amity Hall, Ashley, Green Park, and Eden need answers and action. Maybe George Henry could do a bit of investigation in order to find out the real reason for the work stoppage, on the road from Osbourne Store to Ashley. I would ask Vando Palmer to look at this road before he makes any more public statements about it.
I am, etc.,
WINNIE ANDERSON-BROWN
winab@cwjamaica.com
Bagatelle District
Ashley P.A.,Clarendon
