Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

Mayor of Falmouth, Jonathan Bartley, during a Gleaner Editors' Forum with local authorities on their role in the development of western Jamaica, on Wednesday. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

DESPITE RELENTLESS efforts by the Government to 'quick fix' the town of Falmouth in time for the start of Cricket World Cup 2007, indications are that it will not be ready if preparations are not fast tracked.

Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Jonathan Bartley, raised concerns about the lack of funding to undertake a beautification project in the town; the inability of the contractors to complete the hospital and police station, and a non-functional sewage treatment plant. He was speaking at an Editors' Forum at The Gleaner offices, in Montego Bay, on Wednesday.

Although incomplete, construction work on the fire and police stations, he said, were more advanced than the hospital building.

"I believe if they work at nights and with extra human resources, completion could be possible. I am appealing to the authorities to ensure work is expedited," he said.

Submitted budget

Regarding the Falmouth Sewage Plant, he said it would not be possible to repair it within the next 30 days. He said the Local Organising Committee (LOC) had informed the Trelawny Parish Council late of what responsibilities it should undertake in preparing the town to be ready.

"We then informed the LOC that we did not have the kind of funding in place to take on the role. Upon their request, we submitted a budget of $180 million to the World Cup Cricket Board through the Local Government Ministry from last February," the mayor said. "This was to cover the cost of bushing, drain-cleaning, paving of sidewalks and restoring the Falmouth Market. To date, we have not received a cent."

According to him, the council had been exercising faith that it would receive funding, but now has to look into other directions because it does not believe the money will be forthcoming.

The international press will be focussing on the island and if we are going to use Falmouth to sell Jamaica, I believe it should be in an acceptable state," Bartley said.

Critical situation

Describing as critical the condition of the 'Draggy Bank' drainage, which needs to be cleaned urgently, Mayor Bartley said all secondary drains in the town were filtered into that main drain. However, owing to stagnation, drains were blocked and silt was being piled up.

He said the National Works Agency had since undertaken the drain-cleaning exercise, but it was not being done thoroughly.

Mayor Bartley said he was hoping to receive money from the Parochial Road Fund, having consulted Local Government Minister Dean Peart on Wednesday.

He has no idea whether any funds, and how much, will be released as it would represent 10 per cent of property taxes collected in the parish.