Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Job seekers in Buff Bay, Portland, claim they are being bypassed by the contractors of segment three of Highway 2000. They claim excessive preference was being given to applicants from neighbouring St. Mary.

Segment three of Highway 2000 is located between Ocho Rios and Portland, which is being undertaken by Danish firm, Pihl Construction Company Ltd.

More than 30 persons in Buff Bay, who claim to have applied for work at the Epsom Employment Office in St. Mary, are alleging that their applications have been dumped into 'File 13'.

"Work on the highway is taking place right in our backyard, and none of us have received any work," said Charmaine Jackson, a job seeker in Buff Bay. "Many like me have travelled all the way to St. Mary and our names were put on files with the promise that we would benefit once the Portland leg started."

Others shared similar stories while arguing that Portlanders should be given priority placement.

"While we understand the selecting of a few people from St. Mary who possess technical skills and ability, it is rather unfair to us Portlanders for them to bring in an influx of workers from St. Mary, while we are being ignored," said Troy Chambers, another resident.

The parish directorates of the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party in western Portland are also criticising the employment policy of the highway contractors.

Lobbying for transparency

Representatives from both major political parties said they were lobbying for greater transparency and accountability in the contractors' employment policy to ensure Portlanders get a share of the jobs.

Work is on in earnest on the outskirts of Buff Bay, while a section of land is being cleared and prepared near Somerset Falls, in Hope Bay, for the erection of a plant, to be used by Pihl as a base for its heavy-duty equipment and office.