CENTRAL WESTMORELAND - Residents demand jobs of new Central Westmoreland Member of Parliament

Central Westmoreland Constituency: Roger Clarke(PNP) versus Russell Hammond(JLP)

published: Wednesday | August 1, 2007

Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

As the country awaits the general election on August 27, constituents in Central Westmoreland believe the main focus of their new Member of Parliament (MP) should be the creation of more job opportunities.

"Right now, the only major industrywe have in Westmoreland is sugar," said Stanley Sweeny, a 72-year-old resident of Hatfield.

"After the crop cut off and finish with, the people don't have anything to do but wait until the crop comes around again," he added.

Mr. Sweeny believes there is too much unused land in the constituency which could be put to use, and suggests the MP acquires these to build factories to provide work.

Race on

The race is on for Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate Russell Hammond and the People's National Party's (PNP) Roger Clarke. Both want to represent the constituency which has towns such as Savanna-la-Mar, Frome, Llandilo, Cornwall Mountain, Haddo, Petersfield, Whithorn and Georges Plain.

Vincent Campbell of Hudson Street in Savanna-la-Mar suggested several acts of violence recorded in the constituency resulted from the lack of opportunities for the younger population. "Right now we want to see some factories and community centres in the constituency so the youths can learn a skill or get a job … too many of them leaving school with nothing to do so, little after, if dem nuh get no work, them a go head for the streets," he said.

"I need a MP who will work after the elections, not only when election come around," added Campbell.

His sentiments were echoed by citizens in the nearby volatile community of Campbell's Run, more popularly known as 'Russia', in Savanna-la-Mar.

Darcy Ebanks contends that many persons have tried their hand at fishing but "something more lucrative" is needed, as many times fishermen return from sea empty handed.

Other issues

There are other issues in the constituency as well.

For example, for more than four years, residents of Haddo say they have had to be travelling some three miles to collect mail at the Ramble Post Office in Hanover because their postal agency has been closed. Some persons say they are being "inconvenienced" and this issue is one for their new political representative.

For the capital, Savanna-la-Mar, the major town inthe constituency, the main concern is that of drain cleaning.

Last May, sections of the town were flooded, prompting a call for an extensive drain-cleaning programme.