An irate resident of Waterhouse in St. Andrew makes a point during Television Jamaica's 'Your Issues Live', last Thursday. The programme was held at the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Bay Farm Road. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WHEN THE popular Television Jamaica programme 'Your Issues Live' was broadcast from the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waterhouse, St. Andrew, last Thursday, an intense war of words broke out between residents and O.T. Williams, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area.
Mr. Willaims came under fire from the residents who blamed him for the poor state of the roads in the community and for failing to provide them with amenities that could help lift them out of poverty.
One irate female resident, who addressed the MP, loudly proclaimed: "Mr. O.T., we tired of you!" This was met with loud cheers from the audience members.
DEFENDED HIS STINT
But Mr. Williams strongly defended his stint as MP. "Whatsoever resources I have got from the Government, I have used prudently," he responded.
He said he visited the community every week and is always available to speak with residents. A few audience members nodded their heads when he said this.
LACK OF A SKILLS TRAINING
Among the issues that the residents complained about was the lack of a skills training centre in the community. But Mr. Williams noted that he went through great pains to build and equip such a centre. He said, however, that when it was 90 per cent complete, the building was robbed of everything. Even the grille work.
A male resident spoke of the need for job opportunities. The lack of these opportunities, he said, contributes to the high crime rate there.
"Imagine a 15-year-old whose parents dead. Him not even have a dollar. When a don offer him guns and money, you think him not going to take it?"
One shy teenager, who timidly approached the microphone to address the gathering, said the good in the community should not be overlooked.
"Many of our children are going to schools and universities. I would like people to remember that and to have the community uplifted," she said. The crowd applauded her.
