SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Councillor Arthel Colley (People’s National Party, Negril Division) is begging for help to address persistent concerns raised by residents and business operators in the division. He pointed to an absence of functional street lights in every community as one of the issues.

“People are calling on me to fix the light, and what I am being told is that since 2007/2008 the Government don’t purchase not even one street lamp to service these areas,” Colley said.

“All of that would fall under the Ministry of Local Government. I am really, really concerned about that,” he added during Thursday’s monthly meeting of Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC).

He spoke of the pressure he is feeling.

“Chairman, di people dem innah mi ears,” Colley pleaded. “Dem a talk ’bout light, dem a talk ’bout water — and I can’t help them,” he said.

In response, mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Danree Delancy (PNP, Bethel Town Division) assured Colley that WMC will be writing to Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to address the streetlight issue.

Turning his attention to road repairs under the SPARK programme, Colley told the meeting about a recent conversation he had with Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Western Morland Wilson that left him worried.

“He mentioned about three roads, but the funny thing about the three roads [is that] they are not on the 10 that [my office] submitted to him,” said the councillor. “The three that him kinda mumble about, while we should not differentiate areas, they are known as Jamaica Labour Party areas — and I am really concerned about that.”

The town of Negril has been facing major challenges that have made life challenging for residents, tourists, and the business community. Flooding has further destroyed roads that were already badly in need of repair; water woes hobble tourism players; while Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael caused blackouts which lasted for weeks in some communities.