Paulwell to boycott next Constituency Debate if Harbour Drive drain is not fixed
KINGSTON, Jamaica— A boycott of the 2023/24 State of the Constituency Debate is on the cards for the Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, if an outstanding project in his constituency which he said puts the lives of his constituents at risk, is not completed by that time.
Paulwell, who has been a member of parliament for 25 years, lamented that major drain works for Harbour Drive in Harbour View which falls in his constituency have been ignored for the past four years. He complained of being slighted while making his contribution to the constituency debate last week.
“We have had major drainage problems and every time there’s significant rainfall there is flooding,” lamented Paulwell.
“The Government, through the Minister of Finance four years ago, and repeated every year when we sit at Standing Finance Committee, have made pledges, promises to fund (the project),” Paulwell added.
He reminded the House that three years ago, $70 million was found in the Budget “and I eyeballed the Minister (Dr Nigel Clarke), along with his chief technical person and they said see, it’s there, $70 million”. Paulwell noted that the funds would have been attached to the South Coast Development Roadway being constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company.
He said he was told then that the Harbour Drive Drain would be done as a priority project. “Not one dollar has been spent so far and the situation is dire…If there were to be a significant rain event, persons living along Harbour Drive and in the Harbour Heights community would be severely affected.
“Not only with their house being washed away but God forbid, lives could be lost as a result. And this has been outstanding for four years, commitments have been given for four years, every year and it’s going to take major destruction, death, for some funds to be provided by the Government,” Paulwell bemoaned.
“We can’t wait any longer, that’s the reason why next year I won’t be participating in these debates if that problem is not solved,” the veteran MP declared.
