Lisa Hanna: No money allocated for Prickly Pole, nothing to answer for

Member of  Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, Lisa Hanna, has spoken publicly for the first time regarding claims by some members of her constituency about the allocation of three million dollars to pave the grounds of  the Prickly Pole Primary School. She says the project was never approved for execution, and no money was spent.

The issue has been stirring controversy in the constituency, which culminated in a protest yesterday by residents who demanded to know how the three million dollars was spent. Miss Hanna, responding to the protesters on Thursday, said there is a system in place for the submission and approval of  projects, and this was one project which did not get the green light. 

Miss Hanna has denied that she was unreachable to constituents who sought to question her about the project.

Meanwhile, speaking in her capacity as Minister of  Youth, Miss Hanna is standing by the statement issued by her Ministry in relation to the death of  an 11-year-old student of  Prickly Pole Primary.    

The statement condemned parents who organized for their children to participate in a political protest, and made a link between the child's death and the demonstration.nThe statement is being considered by some as inappropriate, because the protest was against Miss Hanna in her capacity as MP. However, she said the statement was based on information she had in her possession, and was also done to raise an issue.