Harris calls on Gov’t to auction unclaimed vehicles
KNOCKALVA, Hanover – MAYOR of Montego Bay Glendon Harris has called on the Government to auction the hundreds of state and privately-owned vehicles that are being stored on Government property for a considerable period of time.
“They (the vehicles) would assist some farmers that are not able to buy the newer vehicles to go to their farms and to carry out their business. That would help the country tremendously,” said Harris, who is also the President of the St James Association of Branch Society. He added that the auctioning of the vehicles would not only be beneficial to farmers, but to the Government, as well.
“The Government will get in those funds into the treasury and the move would help many small persons. They must be gotten rid of, even if it is to the scrap metal industry,” he stressed.
Harris, a former president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society was speaking on the weekend at a meeting of the People’s National Party (PNP) Regional Six Executive Council at the Knockalva Technical High School in Hanover.
Region Six comprises the parishes of St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.
Harris, in his address, noted that many of the vehicles which should be auctioned are located on various government properties, including the Transport Authority pounds, the National Works Agency compound, police stations and on the premises of the National Water Commission.
The vehicles, he emphasised, are having a negative impact on the environment.
“None of those places (where the vehicles are stored) can be cleaned up properly; you are threatened with rodents, mosquitoes… for these things harbour all kind of things and you cannot get to clean up the place properly,” he declared.
Added Harris: “We cannot be saying clean up, clean up and when you look at the National Water Commission compound in Montego Bay, it is an eyesore and a disgrace because all those vehicles are parked there. When you look at the police station yard it is a disgrace, when you look at RADA (Rural Agriculture Development Authority) and all those places, it is a disgrace to have them like that.”