JUNCTION, St Elizabeth — Councillors in this south-central parish have again supported their colleague Cetany Holness in pleading for a tax office here, amid the destruction unleashed on Black River by Hurricane Melissa late October.

The parish capital was battered by the Category 5 storm’s strong winds and high waves which damaged and destroyed critical structures including the Tax Administration Jamaica office, Black River Hospital, schools, courthouse, commercial buildings and homes.

Last Thursday, Councillor Holness (Jamaica Labour Party, Junction Division) reiterated his plea for there to be a tax office in Junction, during the monthly meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation held in Santa Cruz.

“We don’t know when the one in Black River will be up and running. It is extremely crowded in Santa Cruz,” he said in reference to a small tax office adjacent to the Santa Cruz Police Station.

Mayor of Black River Richard Solomon agreed with Holness’s push for the collectorate in Junction.

Minority leader, Councillor Donovan Pagon (People’s National Party, Braes River Division) agreed with Holness.

“Someone just reminded me that [millions] was spent on the one in Black River and that gone up in smoke, so Junction needs it,” said Pagon.

Councillor Layton Smith (People’s National Party, Myersville Division) during an interview with the
Jamaica Observer before the meeting, went further in calling for a new parish capital to be named.

“Honestly, I think the capital needs to be changed now. I think Santa Cruz or Junction are ideal areas for the capital of the parish. Right now Black River doesn’t have [a functional] collector of taxes. I think right now is the ideal time for Junction to get a tax office that we have asked about for so long — it is the ideal time now to bring that to Junction,” Smith argued.

He said Santa Cruz and Junction have become the primary places of business in St Elizabeth.

“Most of the people from Black River are now heading into Santa Cruz or Junction to do their shopping. In Junction there are so many people now looking for houses to rent because of the whole situation in Black River, so we have to be careful and have to know how we use the road in Santa Cruz because it is heavily congested,” he said.

Councillor Holness also raised questions about the delay in opening a public sanitary convenience in Junction four months after a ribbon-cutting there by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.

“The sanitary convenience remains closed. What is holding up the sanitary convenience — especially at a time when Junction is buzzing with activities? We need to get that facility opened,” said Holness.

Chief executive officer at the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Errol Lebert said the delay is due to the hampering of the hiring process for an attendant.

“We did an interview with one person. We sent the communication to the HR committee at council, but I believe the hurricane disrupted [that]. We can have a discussion on a temporary arrangement,” he said.

People gather outside the Tax Administration Jamaica office in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, last Thursday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)