RUDYARD Spencer said his constituency development fund (CDF) was well spent as he had used it to improve conditions in Clarendon South Eastern, which is home to about 65,000 people.

“The $40 million was properly utilised,” Spencer said last week.

His priority areas included the rehabilitation of roads, health and education.

He told the Sunday Observer that he had used the CDF primarily to:

. rehabilitate a number of roads, which had not been repaired in decades. He cited, as example, the Lionel Town Scheme which, according to him, had not been fixed in more than 16 years.

. carry out repair work valued at $6.5 million on Green Park Road.

. build a wall at the Palmer’s Cross Junior High to prevent gunmen from invading the school.

. repair a breakaway in Longwood. (This work is currently under way.)

. improve the operating theatre at the Lionel Town Hospital as well as effect repairs to other sections of the facility.

. provide the Wildman Town Housing Scheme with electricity through the Rural Electrification Programme.

. provide scholarships totalling some $3.5 million for about 56 students at the tertiary level.

Spencer said work was slated to begin shortly on the Rocky Point health centre which has been in disrepair for many years. He said money had been allocated for this project from the National Health Fund.

In addition, councillor for the Rocky Point division Winston Maragh told the Sunday Observer that health centres in Portland Cottage and Mitchell Town would also be repaired under this fund. He said the work would also include repairs to the perimeter fence at the health centre in Hayes which was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Dean.

Maragh said work would also be done on the bathroom at the health centre in Bird Hill to allow for the reopening of the facility.

As for the community centre in Rocky Point , Spencer said work would also commence shortly on this facility.

Meanwhile, a water main was recently laid in Portland Cottage while Cabinet approved nearly $50 million for a new water supply system that will serve Lionel Town, Mitchell Town and Portland Cottage. Under this project, water is expected to start “flow” in residents’ pipes by this October.

Spencer also said a number of drains in the constituency had been cleaned and that funds had already been identified to clean several others before the start of the rainy season.

Maragh, for his part, said the constant blockage of these drains was caused by the sea depositing “a lot of sand” on land. He said they planned to correct the problem by building concrete drains instead.

Work is also slated to begin shortly on a new market for Rocky Point which will also accommodate fish vendors, who will be relocated from the shacks currently along the beach.

Money has also been allocated, according to Spencer, for the building of public sanitary conveniences. These are expected to be constructed as soon as work begins on the market, he said.

As for the children roaming the beach when they should be in school, Spencer said he had previously received a report, and had asked the Child Development Agency (CDA) to investigate the matter.

“The day they (the CDA) went there they did not see any children on the beach, but they say they will be going back,” Spencer said.

On the matter of high unemployment among residents, Spencer said this was also being addressed, especially since Monymusk and Jamalco had scaled down operations. According to Maragh, persons were now being provided with expert advice to get into farming as another means of livelihood.

The councillor also dismissed complaints from residents that they cannot see their MP, saying Spencer was in the constituency at least two times per week.

“The only problem is, they used to see him every day but they can’t anymore because he now has a ministry to operate,” Maragh added.