Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Hayles

WESTERN HANOVER Member of Parliament Ian Hayles on Tuesday used the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to appeal for urgent remedial works to bridges in his constituency which, he believes, have contributed to road crashes.

Hayles charged that at least four bridges in the constituency were poorly constructed. He said one of them, located at Cove, may have been a factor in road fatalities.

"There are many Jamaicans who have lost their lives because of the same problem," Hayles said.

Milton Hodlin, chief executice officer of the National Works Agency, promised remedial work would begin within three months. However, Hayles contended that this was too long.

Elsa-May Elizabeth Wilmot Binns, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, told the PAC the ministry would address the contentious matter.

Serious matter

"This is a very serious matter being brought by the member. If there are fatal accidents there and there is any proof, we would have to do something immediately," Wilmot Binns said.

However, this was little comfort for government minister Everald Warmington, who contended that the ministry had known of the problem for a long time.

"I am alarmed"

"Barry Gray never spoke in this House without speaking about that bridge. I am alarmed to understand that at this stage, nothing has been done. It was not done properly and the ministry is aware of it," Warmington said.

Gray is a former Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, who lost his seat in last year's general election. Hodlin, meanwhile, said the contractors were not responsible for the way the bridges were made. The bridges in question, which are part of the North Coast Highway, are said to be at least four inches above the level of the road.

Hodlin said the bridges were engineered this way to allow them to fall to the road surface later. Until such time, he said the road level would have to be raised to the height of the bridges.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com