Make Portmore our 15th parish

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As a nation, we do not have a tradition of environmental support, and often ridicule the work of Jamaica Environment Trust and that of Peter Espeut. It was always difficult, even at our local municipalities, to get the authorities to not approve building plans that would compromise sinkholes.

If an assessment were done in most flooded towns and communities, it would be shocking to know the number of sinkholes that have been intentionally blocked or destroyed to accommodate new buildings.

Our Government has allowed bauxite mining to destroy hundreds of caves and sinkholes across communities that provided run-off’s for excessive water. This and poor road constructions that do not bear any credible engineering support have led us to our present predicament in reaping floods each year.

It’s the 21st century and we cannot continue with the wanton wastage of taxpayers’ money on overpriced, mediocre work.

Before the next local government elections, the Government should fulfil its promise in creating Portmore as our 15th parish, and allow direct election of all mayors in all 14 municipalities.

It is also time the National Works Agency be decentralised and be accountable to our mayors at local municipalities. This, I believe, would be one way to return credibility to local development and the participatory process of our people.

DUDLEY C. MCLEAN II