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Westmoreland no longer a forgotten parish, says Warmington

Published:Thursday | September 1, 2022 | 12:11 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
Everald Warmington (centre), minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for works, is seen with (from left) Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the National Works Agency; Daniel Lawrence, member o
Photo by Albert Ferguson
Everald Warmington (centre), minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for works, is seen with (from left) Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the National Works Agency; Daniel Lawrence, member of parliament for Westmoreland Eastern; George Wright, member of parliament for Westmoreland Central; Robert Francis, western regional manager, National Works Agency.

WESTERN BUREAU:

In an apparent barb aimed at the Opposition, de facto Works Minister Everald Warmington says Westmoreland is no longer a forgotten parish since the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took the reins of government in 2020.

Warmington, who officially opened a recently upgraded roadway in eastern Westmoreland Wednesday, said the three Westmoreland candidates who gained power in 2020 on a JLP ticket are doing great work in the parish, unlike their predecessors from the People’s National Party (PNP).

“I don’t want to go down the political road, but it is a fact that the parish has been neglected for several years. We have three working members of parliament who are working assiduously for the people here through and with a caring government,” said Warmington.

The trio of lawmakers include George Wright, who was sidelined by the JLP after he was believed to be the man seen in a video battering a woman with his fist and a stool.

Wright, who is now an independent lawmaker, has neither confirmed nor denied that he is the suspect.

The parish has long been a political stronghold of the PNP but turned green in the 49-14 electoral landslide of September 2020.

The rehabilitated road between Retrieve and Marchmont was rehabilitated at a cost of approximately $75 million.

According to Warmington, the corridor is vital to the economic life of lower St James, eastern Westmoreland, and northwestern St Elizabeth, providing easy access to several schools, churches, farms, and tourist attractions.

The scope of the work done entailed earth works, drain cleaning, the construction of several U and V drains, pavements, and the laying of asphalt.

The Retrieve to Marchmont road development comes on the heels of the $475-million water-supply project, which was recently opened near Negril by Matthew Samuda, the de facto water and environment minister.

CLEAR SIGN

Warmington said that the multimillion-dollar development is a clear sign that Westmoreland is not being neglected by the Government in power.

“I will say without any contradiction that Westmoreland is no longer abandoned. Westmoreland is recognised and will be taken care of by this caring government,” Warmington stated emphatically.

Warmington also took a swipe at persons he labelled Opposition-aligned political activists who have been blocking roads in the parish and demanding that they be fixed.

“I find it very ironic and hypocritical that the people who are now blocking roads and making noise are persons who encouraged the abandonment of the parish for so long,” the works minister said.

In listing road projects completed in the parish under the JLP administration, Warmington named the following corridors: the Gooden River to Toll Gate main road at a cost of J$20 million; Locust Tree to Bath Mountain, costing $20 million; Shrewsberry to Logwood, priced at $27.7 million; Gooden River to Glasgow at $60 million; and the Welcome road network at J$44 million.

“Those projects were made possible because of the very strong representation that is being made by the members of parliament,” said Warmington.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com