Barton, Dawson to face off in Aenon Town
Published:Thursday | November 7, 2024 | 12:12 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
In a passionate address in Clarendon, Prime Minister Andrew Holness vowed to make road repairs a top priority, signalling a strong commitment to fixing Jamaica’s road infrastructure.
The announcement came during the nomination rally for Suzette Barton, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Aenon Town division, set for November 22.
Addressing JLP supporters gathered for Barton’s nomination, Holness expressed his disappointment with past administrations, particularly the People’s National Party (PNP), over their failure to address road maintenance.
He specifically called out the poor state of the James Hill main road, which leads to Aenon Town, as an example of the neglect he said has plagued Jamaica’s road infrastructure.
“Being the first post-Independence prime minister, I have to be fixing the problems of the past,” he said.
He defended his administration’s commitment to tackling the issue, asserting that his administration is in a stronger position now to address road repairs in a comprehensive way.
“I never start the problem of bad road in Jamaica,” Holness declared. “I drive up here, and I have to shift positions in the car to steady myself. The road bad, and nobody don’t have to tell me this,” he added, sharing his personal experience with the poor road conditions.
According to Holness, the Government has already made strides in addressing the issue by conducting a full audit of Jamaica’s roads. He revealed plans to reform the National Works Agency (NWA) to ensure a better system for managing and maintaining roads after they have been repaired. The reforms aim to improve the NWA’s oversight and management capabilities, creating a more efficient approach to infrastructure.
“So we will be reforming the agency to ensure better management and supervision of all the roads in Jamaica,” he said, adding that the improved agency would be better equipped to maintain the quality of the roads for the long term.
The PNP has also entered the by-election race, nominating Delroy Dawson to reclaim the seat he previously held but lost to Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane, who passed away after a battle with cancer. With Barton as the JLP candidate, the November 22 by-election is expected to serve as a key test of both parties’ strength, especially with a general election due next year.