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Controversy over West Central St James constituency fund
Thursday, April 10, 2008
MONTEGO BAY, St James
The two People's National Party (PNP) councillors for West Central St James have accused their member of parliament Clive Mullings, of bypassing them in the matter of the $40 million Constituency Development Fund.
According to newcomer Avrie Rosegreen who represents the Mount Salem division and Michael Troupe of the Granville division they were very disappointed at not having a say as far as the submission of proposals for projects to be financed by the fund was concerned. "This is total disrespect to the people of the Granville division," Troupe charged." As far as I am aware no consultations were held with the residents."
A councillor since 1998, Tropue said Muillings should remember that he is a servant for the people of West Central St James and Granville in particular.
" He (Mullings) must remember also that he owes the people an obligation and I am calling on him to start the consultation in the division," Troupe urged.
For her part, Rosegreen said the projects that were reportedly submitted by the MP did not reflect the wishes of her division.
" I have been to various citizens associations meetings........ the Westgate Hills Citizens Association, COMMAND......... and it is the usual cry,: they have not seen the Member of Parliament, they have not heard from him (and) so no consultation has taken place," she argued.
Efforts by the Observer West to contact Mullings, who is also the minister of energy, mining and technology yesterday were unsuccessful.
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Spring Gardens division, Richard Solomone, did not return a call by the OBSERVER WEST, as promised, while the JLP's Heroy Carke of the Rose Mount division phone rang unanswered.
The Constituency Development Fund will make $40 millionavailable for each member of parliament to finance projects in their respective constituencies.
But the MPs are required to submit project proposals after consultations with various community groups to ascertain the needs of the communities.
When the proposals are received in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) they are sent to the Constituency Development Fund Unit, where they are evaluated.
"If the projects are approved they will go to the government procurement guidelines and if it is something that needs to go to tender it will go to tender through the unit," a spokesperson in the unit explained.
"Implementation of the projects will be done through various government agencies. The MP will not get any money at all," she emphasised.
Yesterday, Troupe argued that if the necessary "checks and balances" are put in place, and if there is full community participation in the selection of projects, the initiative could be a great success.
"With this programme the community would be able to plan their projects and implement then in a timely manner", he said.
Meanwhile, councillor Troupoe told the OBSERVER WEST that under the programme this fiscal year, he would like to see attention given to the poor road conditions, the lack of piped water and the inadequate street lighting in his division.
Rosegreen in the meantime, is hoping that a raft of social and economic programmes will be implemented in her division.
These include the construction of drains, projects geared at developing entrepreneurship particularly amongst the youths and training facilities.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
MONTEGO BAY, St James
The two People's National Party (PNP) councillors for West Central St James have accused their member of parliament Clive Mullings, of bypassing them in the matter of the $40 million Constituency Development Fund.
According to newcomer Avrie Rosegreen who represents the Mount Salem division and Michael Troupe of the Granville division they were very disappointed at not having a say as far as the submission of proposals for projects to be financed by the fund was concerned. "This is total disrespect to the people of the Granville division," Troupe charged." As far as I am aware no consultations were held with the residents."
A councillor since 1998, Tropue said Muillings should remember that he is a servant for the people of West Central St James and Granville in particular.
" He (Mullings) must remember also that he owes the people an obligation and I am calling on him to start the consultation in the division," Troupe urged.
For her part, Rosegreen said the projects that were reportedly submitted by the MP did not reflect the wishes of her division.
" I have been to various citizens associations meetings........ the Westgate Hills Citizens Association, COMMAND......... and it is the usual cry,: they have not seen the Member of Parliament, they have not heard from him (and) so no consultation has taken place," she argued.
Efforts by the Observer West to contact Mullings, who is also the minister of energy, mining and technology yesterday were unsuccessful.
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Spring Gardens division, Richard Solomone, did not return a call by the OBSERVER WEST, as promised, while the JLP's Heroy Carke of the Rose Mount division phone rang unanswered.
The Constituency Development Fund will make $40 millionavailable for each member of parliament to finance projects in their respective constituencies.
But the MPs are required to submit project proposals after consultations with various community groups to ascertain the needs of the communities.
When the proposals are received in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) they are sent to the Constituency Development Fund Unit, where they are evaluated.
"If the projects are approved they will go to the government procurement guidelines and if it is something that needs to go to tender it will go to tender through the unit," a spokesperson in the unit explained.
"Implementation of the projects will be done through various government agencies. The MP will not get any money at all," she emphasised.
Yesterday, Troupe argued that if the necessary "checks and balances" are put in place, and if there is full community participation in the selection of projects, the initiative could be a great success.
"With this programme the community would be able to plan their projects and implement then in a timely manner", he said.
Meanwhile, councillor Troupoe told the OBSERVER WEST that under the programme this fiscal year, he would like to see attention given to the poor road conditions, the lack of piped water and the inadequate street lighting in his division.
Rosegreen in the meantime, is hoping that a raft of social and economic programmes will be implemented in her division.
These include the construction of drains, projects geared at developing entrepreneurship particularly amongst the youths and training facilities.