By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner WriterBLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
COUNCILLOR FOR the Brompton Division, the People's National Party's Dorothy Buchanan, has called on the St. Elizabeth Parish Council to request an audit of all the roads completed under the Parish Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDC), and the European Union Fund (EUF) in St. Elizabeth.
She made this call at the monthly general meeting of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council at the council's meeting room on Thursday, March 11 in Black River.
"I would like an audit to be done on all the roads repaired under the Parish Infrastructure Development programme (PIDC), in the parish as well as those which were done with funds from the EU programme", said Mrs. Buchanan, who also criticised Mr. Patrick Wong, the chief technical director in the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport for the high-handed way in which he handles road repair projects in St. Elizabeth.
NOT GOD
"He (Mr. Wong) is not God, he is only an employee at the Ministry of Local Government", she added noting that she is not satisfied with a bridge that was constructed on the Dollintober Road in her division.
But when contacted by The Gleaner for a comment Mr. Wong said that the Ministry of Local Government has selected no projects for any councillor in St. Elizabeth. He said the ministry has developed a programme where its councillors were asked to submit their roads/projects for repairs.
"I have never acted in a high-handed way in any projects in St. Elizabeth, I have never", said Mr. Wong, adding that no bridge was constructed at Dollintober. Instead, a drain was built on the road. He said he is proud to carry out all projects in accordance with the ministry's guidelines.
NOT A COUNCILLOR/POLITICIAN
Councillor for the Lacovia division of the Jamaica Labour Party Broderick Wright, told the meeting that Mr. Wong should remember that he is not a councillor/politician, and that he is only working with the ministry as an employee, therefore, his attitude towards road projects in the parish should reflect such.
The chief technical director was also chided at the meeting for failing to consult with the councillors to get their views/suggestion on most road projects carried out in the parish.
Kenroy Stewart, the council's superintendent of Roads and Works said the road at the Dollintober Bridge was not done satisfactorily. The road was not up to scratch. "I am not happy with the work. I am not happy with the work", he stressed.
The councillors argued that they would prefer that personnel from the Local Government ministry consult with them prior to the commencement of any road contract in the parish, so as to facilitate their understanding of the work that would be undertaken. They also vowed to make this a priority in any future road projects in the parish.
