Robinson trashes Douglas’ record as Trafalgar councillor
Published:Friday | August 21, 2020 | 12:26 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
People’s National Party (PNP) incumbent candidate for St Andrew South Eastern, Julian Robinson, has rejected claims that he has done little for the constituency as member of parliament (MP).
Kari Douglas, the turncoat Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate, has questioned the MP’s achievements since he defeated Dwight Nelson in the 2011 polls.
Douglas, a councillor who once campaigned side by side with Robinson, said nothing significant has been done in St Andrew South Eastern since her late father, Easton Douglas, was the MP. Easton was also a housing minister in PNP administrations.
Speaking to residents of Jacques Road, a predominantly JLP area, on Wednesday during a tour with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Douglas said that the MP has not managed “to build one house in the constituency”, among a string of infrastructural issues.
‘SHOULD KNOW BETTER’
Robinson responded, telling The Gleaner that Douglas “should know better” because “MPs on their own cannot construct houses for residents”.
“Most people know that housing solutions are things that, primarily, are done through the National Housing Trust and the Housing Agency of Jamaica,” he said.
He added that there are very few MPs who have resources to build houses without help from central Government.
“She putting that out there is really baseless,” said Robinson in a scathing repudiation of the former Comrade.
Scrutinising Douglas’ own record, Robinson said that in all the years as councillor of the Trafalgar division, there was not much she could present as accomplishments.
“Since we want to judge people on past performance, let’s put yours on the table as the councillor.
“What have you done since you are the councillor for eight and a half years or however long it has been?” asked Robinson.
Speaking specifically of Jacques Road, he said that a brand-new community centre was built there in collaboration with the Citizen Security and Justice Programme. An Internet café was also established. A summer camp programme is now in its fourth year.
“The fact is, I am not perturbed. Based on the work I have done, we have operated the strength of the PNP’s own machinery in the constituency, and we are confident we will retain the seat.
“Since I became MP, I have maintained the consistency in my work, so I am not put off by what she has said. She should also talk about her own tenure,” Robinson said.
In the 2016 general election, Robinson defeated Charlton Collie of the JLP by 2,046 votes.
Robinson believes that the margin of victory will be higher in the September 3, 2020, election.