RESIDENTS in Barton Isle, St Elizabeth say for years their community has been neglected by their political representatives, both at the parish council and central government level.

The community forms part of the St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency which is currently held by People’s National Party Member of Parliament Evon Redman. Redman succeeded his PNP colleague Raymond Pryce in February 2016.

The residents have also argued that as a farming community, they have been neglected by the Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament for the neighbouring St Elizabeth North Western constituency and agriculture state minister JC Hutchinson.

“I couldn’t tell when I see dem deh man deh. Dem deh man nuh come ’round ya,” one resident fumed.

The people told the Jamaica Observer that they have been neglected by Redman and are ostracised by the Government regarding the Farm Work Programme because of their political affiliation.

“From dem find out say you a PNP, nothing naah gwaan fi yuh. Yeah, dem have special people who dem move heaven for and mi a ‘die-hearted’ PNP, suh mi naah go get nuh help,” one woman, who gave her name as Viceta Brown, said.

She stated that it would not even make sense for her to “pretend to be a Labourite because who weh a move ’round him know who a PNP from who a JLP.”

The woman said that in order to get onto the programme, the people are asked to take their national identification cards. She said that once you are asked to present your identification card, you are sure to be ignored.

Another woman, Elaine Poreman, added that she earns a living from selling peanuts, but said that business is slow during certain seasons. She explained that while buyers come around, they insist on purchasing the good for “cheap”. She added that after spending between $30,000 and $40,000 on acres of peanuts, buyers want to spend $1,500 for a bushel, which would mean that she does not make a profit.

“It is worse if we don’t have a man or job. Like me now, me kind of likkle better because me have a man and mi do mi likkle farming, but the two a dem deh now, dem nuh have nuh man suh it kind of hard,” Brown chimed in, pointing to Poreman, after disclosing that she has “four pickney a send a school”.

Brown said that it costs more than $1,000 daily to send her children to school, but noted that $1,000 is all she is able to afford from her peanut sales.

“Wi don’t know how wi a go get some help; wi wouldn’t mind if you could give wi some help,” the woman said chuckling.

Poreman added: “Dem naah do nothing fi di young people dem enuh. If yuh did come inna di evening, yuh would see di young people dem sitting down. Dem could have a centre or some evening class for dem, but nothing.”

The older residents say even if they are not given “farm work cards” they would feel better knowing that young people in the community are given to secure better futures.

“Suh all a unuh MP, JC Hutchinson, we need some assistance. We, di forgotten ones,” Poreman said.