Eastern Hanover MP bemoans unsuccessful attempts to secure road repairs

By Nakinskie Robinson  

 

 

Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Andrea Purkiss, says repeated efforts to secure assistance to repair her constituency's poor road network have yielded little result. 

 

Her comment comes after residents of several communities in Westmoreland and Hanover mounted multiple roadblocks along main roads on Monday morning to protest against the poor state of the roads.

 

The Bethel Town, Cornwall Mountain, March Mount and Seaford Town in Westmoreland as well as the Chester Castle Road in Hanover were impassable.

 

As tempers flared, Radio Jamaica News was informed that a firearm was discharged Monday morning, allegedly by an angry motorist in Hanover who tried to get around a roadblock.

 

Protesters also blocked the Chester Castle Bridge and other roads.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Monday afternoon, Ms. Purkiss said she inherited a road network in poor condition and is not surprised residents took to the streets in protest. 

 

She added that the people have long felt abandoned, especially when it comes to repairs and development. 

 

"Eighty per cent of the roads needed rehabilitation, and when I tell you rehabilitation, not just patching because of the size of the potholes. I wasn't aware that [the protest] was going to happen but I was not surprised that the people felt like they needed to take it to the streets to get to government. I watched the constituency presentation for the previous Member of Parliament 2021 and the Mackfield-Shettlewood Road was highlighted. It is 2026 now. We remain at the back of the line. Resources come to us late," she bemoaned.

 

Ms. Purkiss said her calls for improvement of their living conditions have been ignored, while adding that the allocation for constituency projects remains meagre.

 

"[There have been] emails that have not been answered to, lots of messages to ministers, no response. The people of Eastern Hanover and myself, we're demanding more courtesy, first. The people of Eastern Hanover are feeling sabotaged and I constantly find myself explaining to the citizens of Eastern Hanover that as Member of Parliament, I get $20 million to take care of the constituency. I can't fix roads from that because there is the need for education assistance" she sought to explain.