MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Councillors in this south-central parish are calling for collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA) and Members of Parliament in the repair of roads following complaints among the representatives on Thursday.

Councillor Karl Smith (People’s National Party, Knockpatrick division) said five parochial roads were repaired in the Knockpatrick area. He questioned whether the municipal corporation was made aware of the repairs prior to the work being done.

“The roads were either patched or resurfaced and I am wondering if the corporation was notified or is aware if not I see it as a big disrespect to the municipal corporation. The parochial roads is the prerogative of the municipal corporation and it doesn’t matter if is even Jesus a fix it, the decent thing to do is to inform the corporation, so I think it is a disrespect on the part that this corporation knows nothing about the several that are being fixed in the space,” he said.

Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield division) shared a similar sentiment.

“The matter disturbs me… I know councillors spent two or three million dollars on roads last year and the Government came  in after to destroy the works of the councillor itself that is money wasted, gone down the drain, it has happened in the Knockpatrick division, New Green, Mile Gully and the Christiana division, so the communication is important and by law it should state that the council should be notified,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell drew the ire of the three councillors affiliated with the Jamaica Labour Party when he suggested that Manchester Central Member of Parliament Rhoda Crawford took personal interest in the repair of a road in the Knockpatrick area.

“… It is alleged that the Member of Parliament is constructing a house on a road that is on the SPARK programme,” Mitchell claimed.

Crawford dispelled the claim as a rumor and said the 10 SPARK roads were already identified following consultations.

“There are absolutely no SPARK roads being constructed in any community where I or any member of my family lives. The political season has long passed. They need to settle themselves and do their work not to spread propaganda. They should learn by now that the people are interested in representation not propaganda,” Crawford responded.

“All SPARK roads were selected at a consultation meeting where the councillors themselves were presented. The roads are Blue Mountain, Wilbin to Hearteast, Sunset, Barnstaple, Ingleside, Berrick Town, Three Chains, Balvenie to Perth and Dunrobin, Sharon to Elgin and Bellefield to Bombay,” added Crawford.

Minority leader and councillor Omar Miller (Craighead division, Jamaica Labour Party) blasted Mitchell over the remarks he made against Crawford.

“Some of the matters that he is airing right now are not for this meeting, it is for the infrastructure meeting,” said Miller.

However, Mitchell chimed in claiming the matter “is on the agenda” of the meeting.

“You have diverted sir into matters that don’t concern this immediate meeting and that is a low,” Miller told Mitchell.

The tense exchange continued among the councillors on both sides of the political aisle.

—  Kasey Williams