‘The engine a throttle now’

Touting an improved road network and improving water systems in St Elizabeth South Western, Member of Parliament Floyd Green says his third term in office will be concretised when a date for the looming general election is announced.

Green, who is the minister of agriculture and fisheries, was wrapping a tour of the constituency in Flagaman Friday night when he summed up what he said was the mood on the ground in the farming and community tourism constituency, declaring victory for himself and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

He is seeking to win by over 3,000 votes.

“Everywhere we go, wah you hear people a say? Floyd Green again,” he repeated to thunderous applause from green-clad JLP supporters.

He said those conclusions are accurate, arguing that he has done significant work in the bellwether constituency.

He said 10 years ago when he first became the parliamentary representative for the seat, he has held for two consecutive terms, the roads throughout the constituency were rugged and poorly maintained.

Now, things are different, he said.

“We drive pon Newell, a Floyd Green did fix that. We drive pon Lewis Town, a Floyd Green did fix that. We drive a Billy’s Bay, a Floyd Green did fix that, Treasure Beach, a Floyd Green did fix that. If we did drive a Great Bay, a Floyd Green fix that,” he said of the route his tour with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness took earlier in the day.

He said criticisms of the main road in Watchwell will soon end because it is now being rehabilitated and that more roadwork is to be done in Pedro Cross and Newcombe Valley among others.

The MP rubbished the opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) campaign in the constituency on irrigation as another talking shop, arguing that for the time the opposition party spent in the constituency there is nothing to show for it.

Schoolteacher Miranda Wellington, the PNP’s prospective candidate, is seeking to unseat him and increase the victory count for the party from seven to eight on election night.

Meanwhile, the JLP has won eight of the 15 parliamentary elections contested in the constituency since it was first established in 1959.

Historically, the party that wins the seat forms Government.

Green said 10 years ago, the National Irrigation Commission was without a truck to serve farmers.

He said since the JLP has taken the reins of the country and that constituency, the Government has purchased five trucks for the commission.

Further, he said ground was broken earlier on Friday “for the biggest irrigation scheme in the Caribbean”.

“We will spend $23 billion to bring water to all of South West,” he said, referencing the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project.

Green said politics should mirror a relay where continuous work is done by successive MPs and administrations but criticised the opposition which he said has failed to play its part over the years.

“What we have seen in our history is that the labour party do work and anytime them come in them nuh do nuh work. Them drop the baton. We affi start over again,” he said.

He said governments have been repeating intentions to transport water from the Black River in the parish to communities since 1970 but said prior to the Holness administration there was nothing on paper or in place to get this done.

He said the feasibility study, demand study, environmental impact assessment, and cadastral maps were all done by the current Government and that pipes will be laid later this year.

The MP said over 1,000 residents who do not have titles but whose lands the pipes will impact will receive titles for free.

“So them can’t talk ‘bout irrigation. Them can’t talk ‘bout farm roads … The one thing I want us to do in the election; me nuh waah just beat them. Me want we beat them bad because me waah ensure that we win by over 3,000 fi send them to them yard once and for all,” he said.

“So, Prime Minister, we getting ready, the engine a throttle now. Anytime you say put it in a drive and we press gas know seh we going straight to the third term,” he asserted.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com