COUNCILLOR Ian Bell (People’s National Party, Beecher Town Division) has stepped up his demand for urgent attention to the breakaway which has left some residents of Upton Road in St Ann struggling to get to and from their houses.

During Thursday’s meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation Bell charged that it has been more than five months since the residents of Upton Road have been marooned due to a breakaway in the area and called on the Government to deal with the situation as a matter of urgency.

According to Bell, he is at his wits’ end as he has repeatedly tried to have the authorities address the inhumane treatment of the residents.

“They are saying I don’t pay them any mind because the majority of them are Labourites [supporters of the governing Jamaica Labour Party]. But this is not a political thing, I’m dealing with it on the basis that we have human beings who are suffering,” said Bell

He told the meeting that some residents have been forced to park their vehicles far away from their homes and there is no indication as to when things will return to normalcy.

“Mi need some answer today because the people them a suffer. It is deserving that these people hear something. Not even current [electricity] in certain area of the place because JPS [Jamaica Public Service Company] can’t go down there to assist them,” added Bell.

The councillor charged that nothing is being done for the residents and he is left with the impression that the authorities don’t prioritise his people.

“This council, led by the mayor and the CEO along with the minister of local government, has no care in this world for the people’s lives in Top Upton,” Bell charged.

“But I’m not going to allow the people of Upton to continue to suffer,” he added.

Howver, chairman of the corporation Michael Belnavis urged Bell to be patient as the council makes efforts to provide him with a detailed report about moving forward.

Indications are that approximately $40 million would be needed for remedial work on the breakaway and the corporation had applied to the Ministry of Local Government for $2.56 million from the Special Grant Fund to start the work.

— Akera Davis