First-time councillor questions distribution of hurricane aid

WESTERN BUREAU:

Arthel Colley, the councillor for the Negril division in the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), is not pleased with the way aid is being distributed to persons in his division who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl. According Colley, it appears individuals who suffered major losses are being bypassed for persons who suffered minimal impact.

According to Colley, some of the persons who are still reeling from the damage caused by the hurricane were further impacted by the recent flood rains caused by Tropical Storm Rafael, making appropriate aid distribution even more urgent.

Colley, who was elected councillor on a People’s National Party ticket in the February 26 local government elections, told his colleagues at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the WMC that he felt he was failing the people when the resources they should be getting is not forthcoming.

“The bad thing about it is that I know an individual who lost one sheet of zinc on her fowl coop, and she received six sheets of ply and 10 sheets of zinc,” said Colley, in highlighting what he sees as the unfair distribution of aid, which he believes needs to be halted and reviewed with the hope of ensuring that the most deserving get the help.

According to Colley, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, he canvassed the community and, based on the level of damage he saw, he submitted a list with 20 names to Member of Parliament (MP) Morland Wilson to be sent to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security requesting aid. However, he claimed, those persons were bypassed in the distribution.

“I am calling on the member of parliament because the prime minister (Andrew Holness) told the Ministry of Labour to fix the problem and send the money to the people,” said Colley. “If it is not reaching the people, somebody is sabotaging the Negril division, and I want it to be dealt with.”

Colley said the names he submitted were people whose houses had been blown down, and persons who lost their roofs among other damage to their properties.

“Chairman (Mayor Danree Delancy), up to now none of these persons have even been contacted to say ‘we received, and we are looking into your claim’,” said Colley, who left no doubt that his first six months as councillor has not measured up to the expectations he had when he offered himself to represent the people.

The first-time councillor went on to bemoan the fact that Negril, especially the Whitehall area, is still feeling the impact of the recent flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Rafael, and the affected residents are now looking to him for answers, which he cannot give

“Chairman, the people are in my ears; they’re talking about light; they’re talking about water, and I can’t help them. It looks like I have to go and hide,” said the seemingly disappointed Colley.

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