By Cedric Johnson, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
DR. WYKEHAM McNeil, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, is proposing a development and beautification programme for all the major townships in Westmoreland as a means of opening the door to future development.
"At present, much focus is being placed on the capital town of Savanna-la-Mar but we must now seriously look at ways to develop and beautify other towns such as Grange Hill, Whitehouse, Little London and Darliston," said Dr. McNeil, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Western Westmoreland constituency. Dr. McNeil, who was addressing a recent sitting of the Westmoreland Parish Council, expressed pleasure with the beautification work now taking place in Negril, where the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) has been cutting and clearing verges and planting trees and flowers. According to McNeil, "I would like to see this beautification replicated in other towns."
BEAUTIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT
In highlighting his commitment to the proposed beautification and development plan, Dr. McNeil, who is requesting the setting up of a special committee to formulate the programme and select a pilot area, told councillors when he received his Christmas work allocation of $500,000 two years ago, it was used to purchase equipment for the clearing and cleaning of road banks and verges in the resort town.
"That effort drew strong commendation even from persons who never supported the idea in the first place," said Dr. McNeil, in outlining his satisfaction with the success of the Negril project. In regards to the proposed expansion of the town of Grange Hill, which he announced three months ago, Dr. McNeil disclosed that the Sugar Company of Jamaica, which has agreed to sell government the land to facilitate the plan, is now ready to complete the necessary transaction with the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC).
"You see, it would be difficult to get the titles for the properties since there should be a 100 year lease on the land and that process would have been too long," said Dr. McNeil, who plans to have a transport centre, a new market and housing development in the expanded Grange Hill. "Placing it with the NHDC, there would be no problem to begin the projects."
