'The area in and around Spanish Town needs investment of big industries such as factories to redirect the youths to the working habit of earning a living, or else all the efforts made will be in vain.'

Rasbert Turner, Freelance Writer

If all the problems expressed by some residents of Central St. Catherine exist, then there will be much work ahead forwhoever is successful in representing the constituents.

A visit to the area, which is under the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, highlights several problems, chief among them, unemployment.

Residents claim jobs are non-existent because there are no major factories in the area and as such, there is real hardship facing many residents. These hardships, they claim, often trigger violence in many communities.

"Yes man, only work the youth dem want bout ya to put dem life together and then the community run better, but if dem no ave no work, then there will be untold problems, you understand?" said a young man voicing the outlook of many a resident.

According to President of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dennis Robotham, the area is calm, however, job creation is a must if the peace is expected to be maintained.

Area needs investment

"The area in and around Spanish Town needs investment of big industries such as factories to redirect the youths to the working habit of earning a living, or else all the efforts made will be in vain," he said.

Several other residents have also said factories and training centres are the way forward if the constituency is to achieve its full potential.

The fixing of roads is apparently another sore point for electors in Central St. Catherine, but this is minor in comparison to a lack of potable water and other domestic concerns. The use of pit latrines, in what are considered modern times, is a big issue. In Tawes Pen, for example, a dysfunctional sewage disposal system has not made the lives of the residents easy, and several have expressed frustration.

Central St. Catherine, which is most readily recognisable by its major town, Spanish Town, also has to consider the well-being of places like Tawes Pen, Avon Park, Gordon Pen, Friendship and Cow Market which depend on, at this point, cottage industries and commercial districts.

For the August 27 General Election, sitting Member of Parliament Olivia 'Babsy' Grange will be up against the People's National Party's Rohan Silvera.