LETTER OF THE DAY - Halt Falmouth Dump relocation now
Published:Tuesday | June 29, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
During my visit to Jamaica during the week of June 14-21, I felt compelled to write this letter, disgusted as I was with the authorities in Falmouth and the Government in general, regarding the development of the town.
I was privileged to be in attendance at two meetings, one led by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the other by the Gleaner's Western Bureau staff along with "local leadership", both having discussions about the status of the development.
Prior to the meeting, a group of us were given a tour of the "Falmouth Dump site" from where some current residents are to be relocated to Hague to make way for the expansion and development of the pier.
I was struck by the reality of how some of my Falmouth family members (yes, I discovered cousins of mine there too) have been allowed to live in such unsafe, unhealthy squalor for so long. It is an indictment on our political leaders' failure to make bold moves.
The conclusion
One would think that our "highly educated government bureaucrats" would have learned from what now exists, except that when I visited the proposed new site, the conclusion I came away with was that the "authorities were just moving the "sore foot" out of sight.
The UDC claims that it has put in infrastructure. What they are referring to is a two-inch pipe going up a hill. Concerns have been raised about health-related issues. Most of the entire pipe is above ground. Who got this contract? How much were they paid? We need to ask for our money back and have this person removed from the Government's contract list. There are no sewerage facilities; most of the people who have been allocated lots are busy "digging pits", and there is no plan for uniformity in the way the houses are to constructed.
How uppity
I read weeks ago where the Hague Residents Association was upset, and then thought to myself "how uppity" they sounded, but I must admit that after my visit, I agree with their assessment one thousand times. Devaluation of their property and fear of criminality should indeed be real concerns for them.
Let us do this right; let us plan the move the same way the original developers of Falmouth (best laid-out town) did. If you can find billions of dollars to redo the Coronation Market in Kingston, find it to resettle the residents of Falmouth Dump in a dignified and humane way.
I am appealing to the mayor of Falmouth, the member of parliament, councillors, the UDC and Ministry of Health to STOP this move as currently being implemented. Let us spend the needed money to make this right now instead of later, at much higher human and financial costs.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK BECKFORD
Someset, New Jersey