The Editor, Sir:

There are expressed concerns about the level of poverty, nationally and internationally. The communities of White Horses, Botany Bay, Pamphret are now bringing this matter to the table. A number of seminars and workshops have been held to formulate strategies in these communities to deal with this problem.

Many agencies along with the Government put plans and projects in place to assist in the poverty alleviation intervention. One such programme is the community participation in the Rural Water Project, agreed on by the Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). To participate, the communities must fall within quartile four on the poverty map, defined by the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

A number of communities across Jamaica meet the criteria and should benefit from the programme. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Government and the community (the community is registered with the Co-operative and Friendly Society as a benevolent society as part of the criteria). The three communities (White Horses, Botany Bay and Pamphret) benefit from this programme in St Thomas.

Serious concern

The project has been completed and has also been implemented. Therefore, we are now in the operation and maintenance stage.

I have a serious concern because it seems that there are attempts to turn the project in a direction that will deprive the people for which it was targeted. This is so because the person who is mandated to facilitate the implementation of the programme has now drafted a new MOU which, in my opinion, is a breach of the signed MOU.

I am requesting that the Ministry of Water and Housing, at the level of the permanent secretary and the IDB review the community participation programme and ensure that it does not divert from its original purpose.

I use this opportunity to express my gratitude for the project which, I am sure if properly implemented and managed, can only benefit the people in these communities. In further appreciating this programme, I must say that if programmes like these were in place, the Paul Bogle-inspired rebellion would not have happened and the history of St Thomas would have been different.

I am, etc.,

C. LEONARD JAMES (JP)

White Horses Botany Bay

Pamphret Development

Benevolent Society

White Horses PO

St Thomas