INCUMBENT Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Western Dr Angela Brown Burke has defended her record of service, arguing that those who dismiss her accomplishments are overlooking the progress taking place in their community.

Her defence was in response to a question asked by a social media user, seemingly a member of her constituency, when the Jamaica Observer used its Instagram account to invite Jamaicans to submit questions for their Member of Parliament candidates ahead of the September 3 General Election, which the newspaper pledged to pursue on their behalf.

The user commented: “Ask Angela Brown Burke when she plans to do some work in the community. We tired now. Nine [years] of nothing.”

In response, Brown Burke — a member of the People’s National Party (PNP) who has been at the helm of the St Andrew South Western constituency since 2017, when the post was vacated by former PNP leader and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller — said there are individuals in every community who seek to undermine the work of their political representatives.

“When somebody says, ‘When are you going to start doing something?’ the first thing I have to do is rubbish the question and then go on to indicate to others who might genuinely be interested in a response as to what I have been doing. Ever since I’ve gotten there, the major issue in the community has been around safer communities, and it is safer communities from various aspects,” Brown Burke told the Sunday Observer.

She said, over the years, she’s worked closely with senior police officers to tackle crime. She added that she’s hosted community meetings to foster a culture of peace and provide trauma support to those in need. Mothers of troubled youth have also been engaged to provide the necessary support and guidance, said Brown Burke.

Pointing out that her constituency has a large youth population, she said much of her allotment from the Constituency Development Fund goes towards education.

“As we went around we realised that some of them [youth] who had skills were not certified, and some of them had started but were not certified. For the first couple of years one of the things that we really put a lot of effort into was what I like to call the ‘Second Chance’ programme, which I know the individuals who were interested in doing some of the courses through HEART [Human Employment and Resource Training] actually came in and [did] that programme,” she said.

The seasoned politician said her office offered academic programmes in hospitality, carpentry, electrical, and customer service, and while not everyone completed the programme, many still use the skills they learnt today.

Brown Burke added that she also offered academic grants and scholarships for tertiary students as well as partnered with principals in the constituency to provide the necessary support.

Public education seminars on fire safety and with the National Solid Waste Management Authority on proper garbage disposal, talks with the National Water Commission (NWC) on tackling water issues, as well as advocating for better garbage collection services also made her achievement list.

She, however, admitted that with many still unaware of the work she has done, more is needed to keep constituents informed.

The incumbent further admitted that there are still areas in her constituency that need work, including improved recreational and community centres as well as the road network, especially along Spanish Town Road.

“The Tinson Pen area, for that sports complex that Portia Simpson Miller wanted to do, we are talking. We have started some work there, getting the field up and ready; it should be ready. Both the football and the netball fields should be ready shortly, but we really want to turn that into the dream that Portia Simpson Miller had, in terms of making that a stadium that people will drive for miles to come to, have their games and stuff there,” she told the Sunday Observer.

Brown Burke will face-off with the Jamaica Labour Party’s Maureen Lorne on September 3, when Jamaicans head to the polls. The incumbent said she is optimistic about victory and hopes to have a Government that will work with her to achieve the vision for St Andrew South Western.

“I’m focused right now on making sure I’m listening to the people about what we have been doing, what we need to change, or what they would like to see differently, and I’m focused on having that engagement. I’m focused on making sure that every day of service, when I go home and when I get on my knees to pray, I feel comforted in my heart that I’ve given my all. I do that every day.

“Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and so I pray for the health and the strength to be able to continue for as long as God will have me, and the people of South West St Andrew will have me,” said a reflective Brown Burke.