Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
A Santa Cruz resident views the culvert that proved incapable of containing the gushing waters which flooded the house (in the background) in May. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVERAL RESIDENTS in the constituency of north-west St. Elizabeth have lashed their Member of Parliament, the Jamaica Labour Party's J.C. Hutchinson, for not paying much attention to the important aspects of their lives.
Tom Smith, a resident of Haughton district, told The Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday, June 1, that "the important aspects to our lives include community centres, education and training, employment and road improvement."
He said, however, that they have had a serious problem with unemployment in the constituency over the years and that very little had been done to address it. Agriculture is the main source of income for some 50 per cent of the residents. Some 15 per cent more earn a livelihood through formal employment and the remaining 35 per cent earn their living casually, doing days' work periodically.
They have issues with development as well. The district of Haughton, which is approximately five miles from Santa Cruz has no real development, they said, and apart from the construction of a few modern-type houses in the area, it lacks recreational facilities.
"I don't see what our MP is doing with his allocation of the Social Economic and Support Programme (SESP), because the infrastructure in this area is not up to standard," said Vaughn Taylor, another resident of Haughton.
Over in New Market, which is a run-down community about 10 miles from Middle Quarters, apart from some concrete houses, the majority of dwellings in this area are wooden structures. Some of them are in need of a paint job and seem real old.
"Sir, I don't know what you mean by SESP fund, but the Member of Parliament needs to come in the community and do something for the people dem. We need help," said New Market resident Marlene Daley, with a sad look on her face.
According to Leaford Vassell, who lives in the Lacovia area of the constituency, "Very little has been done in this area and I wonder if Mr. Hutchinson really considers this community when he got his SESP allocation over the years."
He said that since last September the community and the trade training centres in Lacovia have been torn apart as a result of Hurricane Ivan. He also noted that the infrastructure needs repairs, so that the youths can be engaged in skills training once again.
When this reporter travelled through the Lacovia, Haughton, Maggotty and New Market areas, a number of young people were seen on the roadways. They also cited the lack of jobs and to a large extent, the lack of skill among the youth as well.
"Mr. Hutchinson should be held accountable and he should also come and tell his constituents how he spent his SESP funds and what project or projects he has implemented in the constituency over the last three years," said one young man from Maggotty.
