BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green has taken Member of Parliament Hugh Buchanan and the Rural Electrification Programme Ltd (REP) to task for what he called the blatant disregard of the need of the residents in the constituency.

Green said that the member of parliament has failed to complete work started in a number of communities, such as Ridge Pen and Park Lee, which were far advanced in 2011 in having electricity brought to the residents.

The JLP caretaker said

that poles were erected and many residents made downpayments towards having their houses connected.

“It is truly a shame. In 2011, residents in these areas were on the cusp of seeing their homes and communities finally have electricity. Now, three years later, absolutely nothing has been done by the MP or the Rural Electrification Programme to make this a reality,” said Green.

Green called upon the member of parliament to indicate why the work started in these areas hadn’t been completed, and called upon the REP to make it known if resources earmarked to complete the programme were diverted to other communities.

“There is great risk in these communities, especially for our women and children who are at times forced to traverse these dark roads at night and whose homes are forced to do without what has become a most necessary commodity. It is really a travesty that nothing has been done to help their plight,” added Green

The JLP caretaker indicated that he has dispatched letters to the REP and the member of parliament asking for urgent attention to be paid to the plight of residents in the affected areas.