A St Michael North West constituent says he is finding constituency representative, Neil Rowe, guilty of neglecting the constituency.
Michael Harris Jr charged there were a several social issues in need of urgent attention but Rowe, who was recently re-appointed deputy speaker of the House of Assembly was nowhere to be found.
“The last two years, the MP was missing in this constituency, fighting the case,” he said of Rowe’s rape trial in which he was acquitted.
“But I want to bring him guilty on representation of this constituency. When this bell rings, when an election is called in this constituency or called in this country, he will be uncomfortable in St Michael North West.
“I will make him uncomfortable. Because if he feels he can get an easy ride back to Parliament, not under my watch,” said Harris, who admitted that he canvassed for most of the representatives who held that seat, including Rowe.
Harris was particularly critical of the abandonment of the Deacons Resource Centre at Beach Path, which he highlighted a year ago.
He said it was still an unused eyesore in the housing area, that the perimeter was overrun by bush which was also blocking a watercourse and that a beehive in a tamarind tree was making the residents uncomfortable.
“This is seven years that the centre was closed. Where is the sitting MP? He said that he has written letters to the relevant authorities, where are the answers to those written letters after a year?
“I am calling on the sitting MP that receives $2 500 a month to spend in his constituency, which is $30 000 a year and $210 000 in seven years to spend on this constituency, I am, calling on the sitting MP to come and represent the people and take care of the citizens.”
Pointing out that he had worked with previous MPs such as Mark Williams, Clyde Mascoll and Chris Sinckler, the constituent said: “This centre worked to secure the skills training, which would be plumbing, carpentry. Before that, it was a centre where people from this community got outside funding and bought equipment and young men have been trained to be joiners and carpenters and now we have an abandoned building after the MP has been elected to represent.
“So, I am calling on the Prime Minister to address this matter in St Michael North West. The people of St Michael North West are not happy with the sitting MP. The place needs cleaning, it’s adjacent to Deacons Primary School, it’s a gully, it’s a dirty street. People are concerned.
When contacted, Rowe told the DAILY NATION that the matters raised by Harris were being addressed.
“I visited the area about two weeks ago. We have to get either NHC (National Housing Corporation) or a private person who specialises in removing the hive to remove it.
“I also reached out to the supervisor at the tree trimming department in terms of getting the tamarind tree trimmed. I also visited the area last week with an official from NCC (National Conservation Commission). The plan is to have that same water course in Beach Path dealt with by NCC for a beautification project.”
In terms of the training centre, Rowe said it was “work in progress”.
“It was officially transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment. I have spoken to the Minister about it,” he said, adding that money had been budgeted to get the centre back in operation.
On the money which Harris said the MP was receiving monthly to deal with matters in the community, Rowe said the money was indeed being used for welfare issues such as paying bills for constituents to the extent that the money was not enough.
