As the controversy deepens over the decision by the National Housing Trust (NHT) to purchase the Outameni property in Trelawny, the Jamaica Observer West took to the streets of Falmouth, Trelawny’s capital, yesterday and asked: Do you think that the parish will benefit from the Government’s acquisition of the property?

Here are some of the responses:

Michael ‘Briggy’ Williams – taxi operator

I don’t think that the parish will benefit from it. Outameni is a failed attraction. If the private man could not run it and make money, how will the Government do it? I believe it is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Vincent Green – tour bus driver

I believe that the Government and the people of Trelawny can benefit from the purchase of Outameni if they create certain attraction – like the Coney Park that used to be in Spanish Town – that can be of used by locals and visitors to the island.

If that is done, persons in Falmouth in particular, will get a lot of work from the attraction. Although the Government spent an exorbitant amount of money to purchase the property, I believe in the long run we will all benefit from it.

Delroy Downer

I believe it is a good deal. I believe it will bring much-needed revenue to the Government because we have the cruise ship port here, so visitors will come and spend and more people will get work in the parish, so I strongly believe that Outameni will be a good experience for the Government and the people of Trelawny.

Lindon ‘Reagan’ Clarke – vendor

The Government and the people will not benefit from it.

If cruise ships are coming here and we are not benefiting, how then will we benefit from Outameni? We are not going to benefit from it.

Leon Jackson – businessman

The people of Trelawny will not get any benefit from the purchase of the property if they are looking for a tourism kind of benefit. The only benefit the people of Trelawny will get is if the Government uses the 10-acre property to build houses. Other than that, no benefit.

Colin Gager – deputy mayor of Falmouth

The people won’t benefit from it. Even if you are going to build houses at the property, poor people won’t be able to afford those houses. Not even the middle class people will be able to afford it. And if you are going to go into attraction, a whole lot more money will have to be pumped into it because the attraction has proven to be unprofitable. I really believe that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money.