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  • The faces of Portland

    , West: Development, a major concern
    published: Friday | June 22, 2007




    (L - R) Dabdoub, Vaz

    Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
    Since 1989 the People's National Party (PNP) has dominated the constituency of West Portland, retaining it for the better part of 17 years, despite gallant challenges from the opposition [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]Jamaica[/COLOR][/COLOR] Labour Party (JLP).
    The constituency is to be contested by Abe Dabdoub of the governing PNP, and his opposing number, Daryl Vaz of the JLP. In the 2002 General Election the PNP won the seat by only 300 votes.
    The constituency, according to Electoral Office of Jamaica website, boasts an electorate of a little less than 18,000. And like most constituencies in rural parishes there are many challenges.
    Deplorable road conditions have plagued every community in the constituency, with many of the roads going without repairs for up to 20 years.
    Unavailability of piped water
    Another challenge is the unavailability of piped water, a parish which arguably has the most rainfall in the Caribbean. In modern- day Jamaica, many are still carrying water drawn from distant streams and rivers in containers on their heads. There is also the problem of high unemployment, which has plagued not only older residents but adolescent school leavers as well.
    Errol 'Jiggs' Ennis, Member of Parliament, who has announced he will be quitting representational politics at the end of his term in office, currently represents West Portland.
    The constituency stretches from St. Margaret's Bay along the main to Windsor Castle at the border of Portland and St. Mary. It also extends through the Buff Bay Valley, Swift River, Fruitful Vale, Mount Pleasant, Rock Hall and a part of the [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]Rio [COLOR=black! important]Grande[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Valley.
    And for some residents who have spent more than half a century in the area amid the plights and challenges, it would appear they are being neglected, or otherwise forgotten by the authorities.
    "We have lost all hope of ever seeing this road repaired," said Hezekiah Hartley, a 77-year-old farmer of Chepstow in the Buff Bay Valley. "This is a coffee-farming community, which forms a part of the parish's breadbasket, and yet we have no roads to transport our produce - this is madness."
    In recent times residents were forced to take their frustrations to the streets and in doing so, mounted a massive roadblock along the main road leading from St. Margaret's Bay to Hart Hill - extending for 18 miles - to protest against the deplorable road conditions.
    Expressed disappointment
    Other residents, including Millicent Thompson and her family, have expressed disappointment at the absence of potable water in the various communities. Many residents share the opinion that at least one standpipe should be posted in each community, to give easy access to water.
    "Many of us are unable to perform domestic chores in a healthy environment, as a lack of water has prevented us," Ms. Thompson said.
    "Oftentimes persons, including children, have fallen ill as a result of untreated water. And frequent outbreaks of epidemics have also claimed lives and left many handicapped," she claimed.
    The mother of nine also said that the carrying of water in containers by residents from rivers or streams many miles away has become a tradition and routine in many areas. She noted that children inherit this practice from their parents.
    The employment situation has become so acute that school leavers like Handel Harris, who gained more than five passes in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, have to make painful compromises, including taking up odd jobs, which are below their levels of qualification.
    Others sit around watching [COLOR=black! important][COLOR=black! important]television[/COLOR][/COLOR], hoping for more to come their way, while there are those who turn to the dead end road of the criminal.


    BLACK LIVES MATTER

  • #2
    "Many residents share the opinion that at least one standpipe should be posted in each community, to give easy access to water."

    It's a damn shame that this is still happening in the year 2007. All 18,000 voters should boycott the next election. As a matter of fact, the general voting population should show their disapproval with the current state of reperesentational politics (from both sides) by boycotting the elections. What do you think?
    Hey .. look at the bright side .... at least you're not a Liverpool fan! - Lazie 2/24/10 Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015

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    • #3
      Boycott what?!? Yuh tink water more important dan voting for these uptown white transplants?

      The sadder thing is black man Ennis never seemed to do a damn thing for the area.


      BLACK LIVES MATTER

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Jangle View Post
        "Many residents share the opinion that at least one standpipe should be posted in each community, to give easy access to water."

        It's a damn shame that this is still happening in the year 2007. All 18,000 voters should boycott the next election. As a matter of fact, the general voting population should show their disapproval with the current state of reperesentational politics (from both sides) by boycotting the elections. What do you think?
        Me agree with you. But the larger percentage of the voting populace so damn illiterate, they prefer to jump follow motorcade with numerous body parts hanging out of a window. Requesting STANDPIPE in this day and age. Damn shame.
        Life is a system of half-truths and lies, opportunistic, convenient evasion.”
        - Langston Hughes

        Comment


        • #5
          It is indeed! Shows the disparity of basic resources in rural communities. Imagine a politician from St. Elizabeth has as his campaign strategy - eradication of pit latrines in Primary Schools? What a national disgrace!!!

          Comment


          • #6
            What happened to the MPs before him? Did they ever think for a minute that maybe pit latrines was not a good thing? Or they did not think they would get votes on such a platform?

            Is this a reflection of our MPs or the people in the constituency? Maybe what the people wanted was roads and standpipes. So this year, it's pit latrine time!

            sigh


            BLACK LIVES MATTER

            Comment


            • #7
              you wonder why mi so mad sometimes? That and South East St.Mary the neighbouring constituency is where a lot of roots is. My grandmother still pay water rate fi no water, she said she live with the hope that it will come one day fi her grand kids.

              It was much better under St.Clair Shirley of the JLP some 25 years ago and that is fact. I come and talk about the roads and people think a lie mi a tell. Where there were roads when mi left Jamaica not even donkey can walk there now. Brethren you better nuh go a road a night if you don't know the potholes. It is a damn disgrace.

              On the current record and the distruction of Eastern Jamaica there is NO WAY I could vote PNP. We can try and be as fair as we want but the current government have created a diaster worst than any other time in in the history of eastern Ja
              • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

              Comment


              • #8
                these constituency were better off in the 1960s than they are today
                • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Jangle View Post
                  "Many residents share the opinion that at least one standpipe should be posted in each community, to give easy access to water."

                  It's a damn shame that this is still happening in the year 2007. All 18,000 voters should boycott the next election. As a matter of fact, the general voting population should show their disapproval with the current state of reperesentational politics (from both sides) by boycotting the elections. What do you think?
                  A whey unuh come from? Who been in power fi the last 18 years? Who took over a growing economy and focked it up? Which party these people continue voting for? Man and man grow as comrade and fraid fi call spade a spade. When the JLP fock up people nuh cut corners in scolding them, suh why unuh affi blame the opposition when the gov't fock up?

                  Jangle, yuh need fi keep it real and stop sounding like Mosiah! How often this constituency been going to the same mechanic? Dem need fi vote JLP, mi know the thought much less saying it is blasphemous to some ... if a JLP gov't nuh deal wid the problems ... then yuh can come with such a talk.
                  "Jamaica's future reflects its past, having attained only one per cent annual growth over 30 years whilst neighbours have grown at five per cent." (Article)

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by MdmeX View Post
                    Me agree with you. But the larger percentage of the voting populace so damn illiterate, they prefer to jump follow motorcade with numerous body parts hanging out of a window. Requesting STANDPIPE in this day and age. Damn shame.
                    According to the last election results, they did logon to progress. Why dem complaining now?
                    "Jamaica's future reflects its past, having attained only one per cent annual growth over 30 years whilst neighbours have grown at five per cent." (Article)

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      So yuh telling us that over the years the only thing that unnu had was some decent roads? What about water and other "luxuries"?

                      Unnu have cell phone now?


                      BLACK LIVES MATTER

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Exile View Post
                        It is indeed! Shows the disparity of basic resources in rural communities. Imagine a politician from St. Elizabeth has as his campaign strategy - eradication of pit latrines in Primary Schools? What a national disgrace!!!
                        Thats the least! Yuh should hear Steve Harvey talking about his charity and what he sees in schools in Jamaica. Some people vex bout it .... but as Ele said, "The truth hurts..."
                        "Jamaica's future reflects its past, having attained only one per cent annual growth over 30 years whilst neighbours have grown at five per cent." (Article)

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Mosiah mi granny had water in 1989. The fact is things have gone broken and not replaced and as more people move in it make it worst.

                          We had decent, not great infrastructure in 1989, and instead of making it better we gone back to prehistoric ages. No hospital, no water, No firebrigade, police a beg ride, no roads, no developement and no government support.
                          • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Jangle View Post
                            "Many residents share the opinion that at least one standpipe should be posted in each community, to give easy access to water."

                            It's a damn shame that this is still happening in the year 2007. All 18,000 voters should boycott the next election. As a matter of fact, the general voting population should show their disapproval with the current state of reperesentational politics (from both sides) by boycotting the elections. What do you think?
                            That is how you get what you want.. boycott elections ?

                            LOL !!! How does that prevent the status quo from continuing ? Somebody is going to Vote.. certainly the MP is going to vote for himself..

                            I have a novel approach.. hold those in charge accountable and vote them out... how about that....?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Mosiah View Post
                              Boycott what?!? Yuh tink water more important dan voting for these uptown white transplants?

                              The sadder thing is black man Ennis never seemed to do a damn thing for the area.
                              There are professionals that can assist you with your problem..

                              "Until the color of a mans skin...."

                              Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.. if was all bout color 'Black Man Time' would have worked....

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