'We want to take over the work now'

PNP supporters demand jobs on Fern Gully road project; want Labourites sent home

BY ALESIA EDWARDS Observer staff reporter alesiae@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

HARRISON TOWN, St Ann — Approximately 50 supporters of the governing People's National Party (PNP) yesterday staged a protest in Harrison Town, near the Fern Gully main road, demanding jobs on the road development project being undertaken there.

The protesters — some carrying placards and dressed in party shirts — demanded that the current batch of workers be sent home, making way for PNP supporters.

"Over the last four years the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) supporters have been doing all the work. No PNP nuh get nuh work, whether to sweep street, collect garbage or nothing, and that have to change," one protester Claudette James of Mansfield Heights in Ocho Rios told the Observer.

James and the other protesters claimed political victimisation in the way work has been distributed since the project started last year March.

"You have to be dressed in green and have on some green arm band or something to get a work in Fern Gully. The PNP is in power now and we want to take over the work now. They (JLP supporters) need to go," James added.

But their claims were rejected by Neville Williams, councillor for the Ocho Rios division, who explained that the selection of workers was done by a liaison officer appointed by member of Parliament for North East St Ann Shahine Robinson.

Williams, who shares the boundaries along the main thoroughfare with Ian Bell — the PNP councillor for the Beecher Town division in South East St Ann — said he knew nothing of persons being selected based on party affiliation.

"I have never tried to influence the liaison officer as it relates to employing anybody on this project. I have never tried to influence it then and I do not plan to influence it now. I have no part in political victimisation," he declared.

Williams said based on the realignment of the constituency, he had suggested to Bell that recommendations for employment on the project be made for the people of South East St Ann.

Bell, meanwhile, said talks were underway with Williams to have the matter resolved and appealed to the PNP party supporters to await the outcome of the discussions.

"There are some proposals on the table, I wish to take those back to my member of Parliament, the honourable minister (Lisa Hanna), and having gotten back to the minister I will be liaising with you in short order so that you will know what the process is and where we go from here," Bell told the protesters.

According to Bell, work on the Fern Gully has been put on hold temporarily until material needed to continue the project is acquired.

"We are now awaiting the arrival of material and we are hoping that by the time the material comes, I will be informed so that I can communicate with you...," he said.

He also told the supporters that when they are employed no worker should be seen wearing party colours and insisted that people should turn out to work as ordinary Jamaicans and not as party affiliates.

The $500-million Fern Gully road development and repair project is being carried out under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme. The road, which was closed to vehicular traffic, was recently reopened to accommodate one-way traffic for vehicles heading to Ocho Rios from Kingston.

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COMMENTS (27)

Jewel Morris
1/25/2012

But you see how them dark and fool though. Sister P don't listen to them this is Jamaica not JLP or PNP country. A tell you bwoy Mama P do your thing the right way regardless of political affiliation and you can't go wrong. If the JLP people them doing a good job make them stay. And tell them PNP people at the side of the road they are an embarrassment them fi go home and put away the stupid placards!

Fabian Williams
1/24/2012

Here we go again. The true mentality and approach of the PNP is taking shape. Back to the 18yrs of folishness and greed wheree you have to be PNP to work in the government sector.Portia will never tell them to stop it the nastiness.Palisadoes in the next one.

jamaican peace
1/24/2012

What excuse do these people have for not obtaining a skill? The HEART TRUST NTA, provides skill training in over 20 vocational areas islandwide. They provide a stipend for commuting, free lunch and upon completion of a skill area a certificate that allows you to become employed or become your own boss. Most of these courses do not even require CXC subjects. Come on Jamaican People stop living off handouts! uplift your selves!

Village Voice
1/24/2012

Hold up people!!
Remember that JLP people have children to support also.
They can't all be sent home just because they made a bad mistake and supported the party of the elite. Now they will see the error of their ways. We must now show them that we are a cut above and offer jobs at the same ratio as the election results - 2 PNP to 1 JLP.

wanda woeman
1/24/2012

All these people complaining on here about victimization but I never heard a word out of them when the G2K man said what should be done about supporters of the PNP in public service jobs. I never head them say anything either when Mr. Vaz threatened what they would do with civil servants when they returned to power.
The JLP and its supporters are mixed up, probably still reeling from their massive defeat.

CHARLIE LOUIS
1/24/2012

De ja vu again! why people always feel that they are entitled to jobs based on what political affiliation they align
themselves. This need to stop. Everyone is entltled to a little piece of the pie no matter their political affiliation. Political parties need to stop giving out jobs based on which side is in power. Allotments should be based upon qualification/fairness and not political affiliation. Why wait until now to protest. Such ignorance. Put a stop to this cycle of divisiveness.

British Deportee
1/24/2012

Ian Bell says that the project has been placed on hold due to insufficient material. Now, anyone here knows the implication of said statement? That's a vintage trick employed by politicians to facilitate a somewhat smooth transition in an informal setting, such as the one being discussed. So, in fact, contrary to Bell's disclosure, work on the project is actually suspended to discourage potential mayhem between supporters of both major parties. In the final analyst, Comrades haffi eat a food!

Nejeeper KNG
1/24/2012

@Will Will…..Private initiative have not done anything of significance other than providing enough employment to fulfill their productive capacities. Think about it…Where are the philanthropists that schools and institutions are named after? JA is a breadbasket for the elites who are not willing to go out of their way to move the country forward. The Agriculture business in JA is not being talk about because someone is benefiting from importing foods that we are capable of growing.

D T
1/24/2012

Has anyone ask if these people are qualified to do the job. The govt will give them meaningless jobs to win their votes but no training to enhance themselves. Only in Ja, it is clear these people were promised jobs for votes and now they want the jobs. God bless us

Will Will
1/24/2012

Borrowing funds for the creation of short term jobs that is void of generating future revenue would certainly be burdensome for the Government. I do hope the job creation programs are properly thought through so that funds spent now will be returned at some future date as revenue from any endeavor undertaken.

Cookie Bulla
1/24/2012

We knew this was coming. Jamaican poor people vote with "rice and peas" on their mind. The most embarassing thing is that if you go through the crowd and check to see how many have some sort of skills or training, you may be lucky to find 4 or 5.
This is what you call ECONOMIC SLAVERY - The PNP knows how to play that card!

Blindmice Blindmice
1/24/2012

The PNP’s most famous prime minister; not Jamaica’s; describe politics in Jamaica as: ”Two HUSTILE TRIBE perpetual at WAR, fighting over SCARCE benefit and RESOURCES”. A PNP Gov. minister describe it as: “Who get’s WHAT, WHEN,WHERE & HOW”. The ideology of socialism is the redistribution of wealth. In it’s true meaning wealth is taken from the rich & given to the poor. The PNP’s brand; wealth is taken from the poor & given to the poor & from the poor to the rich. Corruption days are here again.

Will Will
1/24/2012

Private initiatives should be the main driving force in exploring the possibilities within the agro business for job creation coupled with targeted export drive. We grow some of the best herbs and I don't mean Ganja. We cultivate some of the sweetest pineapples I have ever tasted. We grow some of the best tasting mangoes I have ever eaten, yet I have never been able to find such fruits in the North American market. Were the Government past and present not working with the private sector to tap into such lucrative possibilities?

diehardr sickheads
1/24/2012

did we hear one time that all laborite fe dead that would make more people eat food .God please help help us against the party that masters, political tribalism ,political handout,and political cover ups.I guess two wrongs make a right

Alvin Harris
1/24/2012

What a thing in Jamaica. One thing I cannot understand though. The supporters of PNP are saying that the JLP's supporters need to be put out of work and "make way" for PNP supporters. What happen JLP supporters do not families to provide for? This is indeed Jamaican politics....it is like if you do not support a particular party, you are an outcast.

0o k
1/24/2012

Well Comrades won fair and square.......Let them eat a food the size of their win!

1/24/2012

@Fall Mouth - Stop with your propaganda and try being honest for once. This is what the PNP is all about, eat a food, they have not a clue and isn't interested in nation building just hand out in order to win elections.

enquiring mind
1/24/2012

So no protest, not one "peep", about this from when the project started and the other party was in power, but now that the government has changed its supporters find strength to to say that "they need to go".
Are we to believe that these 50 supporters were previously content sitting with nothing to do? If not so, why not raise voices in protest before now?

tickyticky fish
1/24/2012

There should be no firing of anybody the work must share have two four hour shifts and PNP and JLP must work along side each other, Who don't want to work with the other party send them home and there must be no party's colour on the job.

Will Will
1/24/2012

POLITICIANS! "please move away from the concept of to the victors go the spoils." If work is being given out it should be done according to needs and not based on political affiliation. To do so would be to perpetuate the tribal nature of our politics which has been very destructive for the country. Do hope the Government is trying to maximize the agro business for revenue generation. Look at all the possibilities and target your niche markets in North America. How about trying to introduce and get packages of baked breadfruit in the supermarket frequented by West Indian and in particular Jamaican in the various boroughs of New York City at competitive price to other carbohydrates?

Peter Claude
1/24/2012

Jamaican politics is a joke. The parties are nothing more than two gangs fighting for control. Its like the bloods and the crips. How stupid is this? So forget about if you are qualified to do the job as long as you belong to the correct party you get the job? Bwoy mi a tell yu! JA has such a long way to go.

Richie L
1/24/2012

Are we tribes now?!
.
This practice needs to stop. We are all Jamaicans and everybody should be able to get a job without party affiliation being looked at.
.
Richie

claude russell
1/24/2012

Here we go!!

fall mouth
1/24/2012

There was not one PNP supporter on the project....not a one. Even a man who was not a supporter of any p/p (and held the job for many years) was fired from his job as the head of the Solid Waste in Ocho Rios and the job given to a known JLP activist, who walked away from it in a few months and promptly installed in a cushy job.
It is only fair that at least half of them be terminated now and the other side be given something to do.
Better yet the jobs could be alternated two weeks on/off.

Howard Pusey
1/24/2012

Never a dull day in JA!! DID someone say we were getting mature?
So these people were willing to wait until their party was back in power befor they said anything about the distribution of the work?...What if the labourites had won??
My wife watches the soaps,I read the Ja news...same ting

Ramon Castro
1/24/2012

How can a country move forward when the cycle of victimization is alive and well. Unless, this newspaper is quoting the disgruntled protesters -- no one has said, fired everyone and start fresh hiring irrespective of party affiliation anyone showing up in party color deny them employment. Past 4 years only JLP supporters get wuk, prior to that for 18 years only PNP supporters get wuk and now its PNP time.The very people who are condemning victimization are advocating reverse victimization.

Jay Brown
1/24/2012

Eat a food time !
Share up d work!

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'We want to take over the work now'