Clarendon councillors lash NWA for failing to fulfill mandate, causing flooding and damage

Councillor for the Milk River division in Clarendon, Carlton Bailey, has lashed out at the National Works Agency (NWA), citing what he described as the agency's shortcomings as the cause of destruction across sections of the central parish due to weather conditions associated with Hurricane Beryl last week.

Bailey further criticised the agency for its absence at today's sitting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, stating, "The destruction that has befallen Clarendon is caused by [NWA's] drains not being cleaned, and their drains are the ones affecting the community, because all of us here, in recent times, have cleaned the drains that we know will impact the community, and I find myself in a position where I have to be cleaning parts of their drains to alleviate [damages] in communities like Clifton and Sedge Pond.”

Councillor Scean Barnswell of the Hayes division also blasted NWA, stating that the entity was giving misinformation on social media, "By giving the impression that drains were being cleaned, when truth and in fact, they were only cleaning parts of the drain, so it's a false sense of security being given to residents."

According to its mission statement, the state-run NWA aims to "plan, build, and maintain a reliable, safe, and efficient main road network and flood control system" that protects life and property, supports the movement of people and goods, reduces transportation costs, promotes economic growth and quality of life, and protects the environment."

However, Councillor Tanya-Lee Williams, who heads the May Pen North division, has suggested that the NWA was not fulfilling its mandate.

Williams criticised the NWA, stating, "NWA is missing in action," and pointing out that a section of May Pen known as Woods remained in a deplorable condition days after the hurricane, with roadways still impassable due to debris.

Williams also blamed the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for flooding in sections of her division, saying, "I saw [JPS workers] in the woods, cutting the branches and putting them in the drains in May Pen, Woods. I called [the parish manager] and informed him, but nothing was done. On Friday into Saturday, when we had heavy rains, Western Park, sections of Bucknor, and persons on the flat were flooded out, because those woods blocked the drains and caused the water to rise."

Councillor Trevor Gordon also pleaded with Mayor Joel Williams to intervene in having electricity restored to the Spalding division. According to Gordon, an entity of grave concern was a funeral home in the area that had been solely dependent on the use of a generator since the passing of the hurricane.

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