Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
THE PORTLAND Parish Council is probing the setbacks that have hobbled various Labour Day projects, including the official parish project.
Various Labour Day projects were undertaken in nine divisions by their respective councillors, but were reported to have suffered heavily as a result of insufficient material designated towards the Labour Day work.
Councillor of the Fellowship Division, Benny White, indicated that a late start by would-
be volunteers from the Millbank community and persons employed to Government agencies might have led to only a half of the re-roofing work on the community centre being completed on Labour Day, May 23.
"Only a little over 90 of the 200 sheets of zinc were effected to the roof at the community centre," said Mr. White. "The scheduled 8:30 a.m start never materialised until about 11:45 that day, and caused a delayed start to the work on the building."
The community centre was identified by the parish council as the Parish Labour Day Project for 2005, following damage caused by Hurricane Ivan to that building last September. This building, once renovated, will be used as a centre to accommodate persons who will be engaged in needle and handcraft work, and will double as an emergency shelter when necessary.
APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE
Given the importance of the building, Port Antonio Mayor Alston Hunter made a special appeal to Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Donald Rhodd, for assistance in completing the parish project.
According to Hunter, the community centre is of "paramount importance to the people of Millbank," as it will be the only one of its kind within a nine-mile radius. He added that the centre will also help to enhance the talents of many residents in the areas of art and craft.
But while the Parish Labour Day project lies incomplete, other councillors who all shared similar sentiments, argued that their projects too have been stymied. The councillors claimed that in some instances attempts made to collect 10 or more bags of cement which were pre-assigned to them for construction of their Labour Day Projects were unsuccessful. The councillors claim that they were told eventually that "only two bags were available to each".
The councillors are insisting that the confusion may be attributed to poor coordination between the parish council and its Labour Day organisers.
