PNP councillor calls for audit into how gov't funds being spent in South East St. Catherine

By Nakinskie Robinson/Lorraine Mendez    

 

Councillor for the Waterford Division in Portmore St. Catherine Fenley Douglas is calling for an audit into how government funds are being spent in the constituency of South East St. Catherine.

 

Councillor Douglas, speaking at a recent municipal corporation meeting, accused MP for South East St. Catherine Robert Miller of using government funds to further his party's agenda and to support the bids of councillor caretakers.

 

He further accused MP Miller of not including councillors from the opposition in the decision making process for their divisions.

 

Making his case, Councilor Douglas referenced a recent bulky waste removal project.

 

"There is no way that money should be granted to you, Chairman, to spend in a constituency or a division, and you decide to work with caretakers and sideline elected officials. Mr. Robert Miller is guilty of political gerrymandering. Last week, a bulky waste cleanup was carried out, and a text message was sent by a caretaker to JLP operatives only to put out their bulky waste," he claimed, adding that representatives linked to the People's National Party had not been made aware. 

 

The PNP councillor blasted the MP, presenting recordings and several photos in his bid to prove what he said is political victimisation of those who are not supporters of the ruling party.

 

"Everybody decked out in green, and deciding which yard to go...and which yard not to go to collect garbage, and whatever little benefits that are given to the people, they are victimised by way of colour. More than 15 persons or 20 persons have been given business grants, and not one person that says, I don't support the Member of Parliament has received 10 cents," he argued. 

 

He said this represents a great disservice to the people of St. Catherine. 

 

He further criticised the government for what he said is a lack of funding for parish council representatives.

 

He also reiterated that allocations are often either late or promised but never materialised.

 

 

In response to the complaints about the execution of the recent bulky waste removal project, Member of Parliament for South East St. Catherine Robert Miller said the initiative was managed by a sub-contractor.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Miller said the National Solid Waste Managment Authority allocated $2 million for the project.

 

He said $300,000 was paid to the company sub-contracted to manage the project, leaving $1.7 million to be shared among the five divisions in the constituency. 

 

"What the company will do is ask that you provide workers, and I've provided workers to the company that was selected by Solid Waste, and I both selected well-known PNP supporters in the constituency, and well-known JLP supporters in the constituency. And when you divide five divisions as to $1.7 million, the most load you can take out of each division is 10 loads," he asserted. 

 

Mr. Miller further contended that funds disbursed to Members of Parliament for work in each constituency cannot simply be re-distributed to councillors. 

 

"It doesn't work like that, because the reality is, whenever we get resources from government, there are guidelines that must be followed. Failure to follow those guidelines, I'm in serious problem, and I'm not prepared for my name, my character, and my credibility to be smeared by their strategy."