Councillors should do more than fix roads
Dear Editor,
Recently, at a meeting held in Alligator Pond, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that Alligator Pond, Manchester, is to be developed as a tourism destination.
He said that, “We want to develop a new industry in Alligator Pond and the entire south coast has great potential for tourism,” (The Gleaner,
February 19, 2024). He further identified that “a proposal had been submitted to the Tourism Enhancement Fund by the local Member of Parliament (MP) to develop a proper beach in Alligator Pond.”
Interestingly, this is a recurring unfulfilled promise, at least since 2011. Just as recently as in the 2020/2021 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announced that 13 public beaches across seven parishes, including Guts River and Alligator Pond, “are to benefit from major improvements”. (Jamaica Information Service,
June 26, 2020) Among the amenities to be put in place, according to the minister, are “changing rooms and restrooms, perimeter fencing, parking, gazebos, bandstands, children play areas, seating, lighting, walkways, electricity, water and sewage treatment facilities”.
Secondly, the Manchester
Municipal Corporation has a copy of a south coast development plan, especially in regards to the parish of Manchester, funded by the International Development Bank (IDB) under the supervision of the Manchester Parish Development Committee (MPDC), that provides information about the type of tourism industry that is suitable for the parish, and the MPDC has provided training for over 80 members of the Alligator Pond community for tourism projects since 2012.
The problem is that none of the councillors in whose divisions these places are situated seriously seek funding from the Government and/or privately owned businesses to make “party promises” a reality. Their job involves more that fixing roads and supplying water.
On a larger scale, one wonders if the four MPS of Manchester are informed about the parish’s development plan that had even influenced the Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan (NDP).
I have seen posters with MPS and the prospective councillors who they support on display during this local government campaign. This should be unconstitutional, because the MP, after winning at the constituency level, represents the people and not only JLP or PNP supporters.
Dudley Mclean, II Manchester dm15094@gmail.com