Every year, street lights like this are issued to the various parish councils by what was formerly the Ministry of Local Government. With the abolishment of the ministry, councillors say the process of delivery has slowed too much. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Mayor of Port Antonio, Floyd Patterson, was forced to intervene in a row among three councillors in the Portland Parish Council over the disbursement of funds to effect road repairs in two divisions.
Councillors Wayne McKenzie, and Dexter Rowland are questioning a recommendation made by a councillor for money to be taken from the Special Grants for Repairs (SGR) to effect repairs to a roadway at Vineary.
The recommendation was made by councillor of the Hope Bay division, Rupert Kelly, in support of a colleague, Councillor Gloria Silveria of the Buff Bay division.
The Vineary road is now in a state of disrepair and some sections of that roadway are also impassable to vehicular traffic.
However, the two councillors are insisting that the same measures be taken with regard to sections of Portland Road in Port Antonio, which is also in a state of disrepair.
They argued that instead, priority be given to that roadway, as it serves a wider cross section of individuals.
The Portland Road falls on the border of both councillors' divisions, Port Antonio and Prospect.
After listening to both sides, Mayor Patterson decided to tour both roads, after which he would make a decision.
- Gareth Davis Sr
Still no answer to Woodside robberies
CLARENDON:
The serial burglaries at the Woodside School for the Deaf, situated a few miles from May Pen, were again brought before the Clarendon Parish Council in its July sitting.
Superintendent of Roads and Works Richard Clarke said he had sent a representative from the parish council to have a look at the school's building and to see what assistance could be given.
He reported that there was about $4 million worth of damage, as the school had been almost completely stripped of plumbing, electrical wiring and appliances.
The teachers and students have been moved to a smaller building on the same site for classes.
Councillor Richard Azan, who had initially made representation in the council's April session, said the school needed to be relocated.
He said it would not be feasible to repair the building as the thieves would return anyway and continue the pilferage.
Councillor Trevor Morris of the Denbigh division suggested the school be relocated to land near the School of Hope, another 'special-needs' institution which is situated on the Jamaica Agricultural Society's Denbigh Showground.
As there were questions as to who was directly responsible for the school, the secretary/manager, Adassa Morgan, said both she and the superintendent of roads and works would look into the matter and approach the relevant authorities. Council will be on recess for the month of August.
- Angella Chin
Lights on for parish council
The St Elizabeth Parish Council has been told by the Department of Local Government that the 50 street lights allocated to the parish have been approved and the relevant information should be in the hands of the Jamaica Public Service contractors to commence installation shortly.
This was disclosed by acting secretary/manager of the council, Gerald Lee, while addressing the monthly general meeting of the agency in Black River last Thursday.
The installation process will see the new street lights erected at strategic locations across the 15 divisions in the parish.
These include Mountainside, Pedro Plains, Malvern, Junction, Santa Cruz, Black River and Myersville.
- R. D.
Water shortage hits St Ann
ST ANN:
The shortage of water in some communities was among the matters highlighted at Thursday's monthly meeting of the St Ann Parish Council.
Demanding that she personally needed water now, councillor for the Bensonton division, Lydia Richards, said the situation was getting worse every day and must be treated as a matter of priority.
Richards pointed out that residents in the districts of New Holland and Fort George and adjoining communities had been experiencing water problems for over two months and were appealing to the parish councils for help.
Other complaints about water problems came from councillor for the Sturge Town division, Winston Lawrence, councillor for Moneague, Lloyd Garrrick, and councillor for the Palderwood division and deputy mayor, Binnett Robb.
- Devon Evans
Montague
Garbage agency'dirty habits' blasted
CLARENDON:
Garbage was the hot, smelly topic of the day as councillor Florette Stewart, deputy mayor of May Pen, chaired her first monthly meeting of the Clarendon Parish Council last Thursday on Sevens Road. Mayor Milton Brown was off the island.
Council, by way of a harsh letter from the mayor's desk, and one not so harsh from the secretary/manager, Adassa Morgan, expressed disappointment with the way Southern Parks and Markets (SPM) was dealing with the parish's garbage.
According to council, collections for some areas like James Hill in upper Clarendon have been over a month late.
However, a representative from the SPM blamed the lack of an adequate number of collection trucks for the lengthy delays.
Richard Clarke, superintendent of roads and works, said he was disturbed by the situation and the health of citizens was being compromised.
He said that if the collections did not get better, the council might have to seek alternative measures like collecting the garbage themselves.
- A. C.
Montague tours the west
WESTMORELAND:
On the request of the mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Bertel Moore, Minister of State in the Ministry of Local government in the Office of the Prime Minister, Robert Montague, visited the Westmoreland Parish Council recently to hear their concerns and offer recommendations.
At the meeting, designated councillors highlighted matters that affected the parish and also suggested solutions which they said could not be implemented without additional funding.
Montague, who was careful not to commit himself to any funding, indicated that he could only implement what had already been agreed on.
He said that nothing new would be done, but the foundation already set could be built upon.
Councillor Earl Brooks of the Little London division turned Montague's attention to roads, water and traffic management.
He said that two more traffic lights would assist in traffic management. Montague said the matter would be looked at.
The issue of drainage was the task of Deputy Mayor Paul Wilson, who, with the assistance of a slide presentation, explained the nature of the lowland areas of the parish and the importance of having the drainage addressed properly.
Wilson also recommended that Montague bring the matter of drainage within the cane belt to the Ministry of Agriculture as the drains that ran through the cane fields ran directly through villages, and if they were not cleaned, residents in the region would be exposed to the risk of flooding.
Wilson said that based on a survey, the drainage rehabilitation would cost $11.2 million.
- Dalton Laing
