KINGSTON, Jamaica— Government Senator Matthew Samuda has chided Opposition Senator Peter Bunting over comments he made on Monday about residents of Redberry protesting for better roads and water, suggesting that the demonstration was at risk of blocking the May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000.

Samuda, who has responsibility for the water portfolio, during his presentation in the Senate on Friday criticised Bunting.

“… As former chairman of the water commission there is no project in south Manchester that you would have approved to give the people of South Manchester water when you had the chance so to do and my criticism of you is as a former Minister of National Security not discouraging the breaking of the law in blocking the road,” he said.

“I want it to be very clear Redberry deserves water and it is this administration that is going to give it to them, because when that administration (People’s National Party) had the chance they did no such thing,” added Samuda.

Bunting, who is also the People’s National Party’s representative in Manchester Southern on Monday suggested that Redberry was being politically victimised.

READ: Residents threaten to block Highway 2K over water woes, bad roads

He said residents have warned that if they are not satisfied with the response from the authorities they will block the highway.

“I believe if they don’t get a response the situation is at risk of even the highway getting blocked, if that is what is going to get the attention of the authorities. We are appealing to the authorities to respond to the situation, because if not residents say they are going to escalate the demonstration and it will become more disruptive, not because they are off the main means that they don’t matter. Not because they are off the main road means they can be ignored,” he said.

“They have rights as citizens as taxpayers and those deserve to be addressed,” added Bunting.