MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern Robert Chin says Monday’s roadblock to protest over deplorable road conditions in his constituency was politically motivated.

“They were heard shouting PNP (People’s National Party) slogans of ‘time come and no labourite round here’. I do not condone the blocking of roads because this is an unlawful act, but they would have never served the purpose of blocking the roads yesterday (Sunday) when all the empty barrels were leaving the constituency heading to the National Arena for a particular event there,” he said in reference to the People’s National Party’s 86th annual conference.

He explained that repair work is slated to be done at the Pratville Health Centre and Pratville Primary School.

“The Pratville Health Centre was ordered closed for repair by the Manchester Health Department. Users of that facility were asked to use the Cross Keys and the Newport health centres. The work should be completed by October,” he explained.

“Pratville Primary suffered extensive damage by Hurricane Beryl. They were put on the priority one list of schools to be repaired by the Ministry of Education. However, at the very last minute the contractor backed out. They put a new contractor in place,” he added.

He criticised former PNP-led administrations and Members of Parliament for the state of roads in Manchester Southern.

“I did not bring bad roads to south Manchester. The PNP had their foot on the neck of this constituency for 31 year stifling the life out of it, but I am here to fix it,” he said

He said work is to be done to fix the roads.

“NWA did the scoping for the roadway that was blocked for the SPARK programme,” he stated.

READ: ‘Pothole a kill wi’

— Kasey Williams