Darliston road protest continues

 

The Darliston to Whithorn main road in Westmoreland remains blocked as residents protest its deplorable state.

 

Radio Jamaica News has been informed that the Linnington Road was also blocked on Tuesday morning.

 

The protesters are refusing to clear the road until an announcement is made about when repairs will begin.

 

But National Works Agency Communication Manager Stephen Shaw says while the road has been identified as one of those in dire need of repair, blocking them will not speed up the rehabilitation process.

 

Mr. Shaw, who was speaking Tuesday on Morning Agenda on Power 106, explained that there is a procurement process that must be followed. 

 

"The process to procuring works is not one that is established and was established by the NWA. It's a government process and that process must be followed. Any variation to same can only be done under strict conditions, and one of those that persons would or may cite is that of an emergency, and in this particular case, you would be hard pressed to say why it is an emergency, being that the situation has existed for a time. But before we even get to there, no one at the NWA can declare anything an emergency. We don't have any such power," he told Morning Agenda host Jodi-Ann Quarrie. 

 

Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, George Wright, has appealed to the residents to be patient. 

 

He noted that the NWA has already gone to the area to assess the scope of work to be done, saying he was "sure that they will be putting an estimate together now to send...to the ministry". 

 

The MP added that Minister with responsibility for Works, Everald Warmington, also toured the area last week, so residents "know that something is in the making for that corridor".