Old Harbour South councillor calls for transparency in the implementation of SPARK programme
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Councillor for the Old Harbour South Division Kurt Waul is raising concerns regarding what he says is the “lack of transparency and consultation in the implementation of the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) programme in the constituency.”
Waul claims he was excluded from discussions, and his division, Old Harbour South, was omitted from the list of roads posted on the SPARK website, despite long-standing road infrastructure challenges in the area.
“I was informed that no parochial roads in my division would be addressed and that no further action could be taken,” said Waul.
He also said that road patching activities were recently done on the main road leading to the Old Harbour Bay community without his knowledge.
“The MP should not be authorising roadworks in my division without prior consultation, as required under the programme’s guidelines,” he stated. “While I note that MP Everald Warmington indicated after the local government elections that none of ‘his money’ would be spent in my division, I would like to remind him that I am the elected councillor for Old Harbour South. Public funds do not belong to any one individual—they are taxpayer dollars meant to serve all citizens fairly.”
Waul further disclosed that he made multiple attempts to engage the MP on the matter, but these efforts were disregarded.
“Despite reaching out to him on three separate occasions, I was dismissed and even had my calls abruptly ended,” he said. “This level of disregard for transparency and good governance is unacceptable. Public resources must be allocated fairly, and the exclusion of Old Harbour South from these much-needed repairs reeks of political bias.”
Waul says having exhausted all formal channels of engagement, he is now taking decisive action to ensure fairness in the execution of the SPARK programme within the constituency of St Catherine South West.
The SPARK programme is billed to improve over 600 roads across the country t
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