'Busta's' birthday lament
Published:Friday | February 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The road leading to the birthplace of Jamaica's first prime minister and national hero, Sir Alexander Bustamante, has become a rough ride and can be treacherous with a precipice on one side.
Noticeably neglected for many years by former and present governments, the state of the road has forced Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for Western Hanover, Donovan Hamilton, to call for the Bruce Golding administration to urgently fix the roads to make travelling more pleasant.
Hamilton made the call while bringing greetings at a civic ceremony held yesterday in honour of Sir Alexander Bustamante's 127th anniversary at his birthplace in Blenheim, Hanover.
"There is a problem getting here and I believe that it is now time for us to make this monument a shrine that all of us in Jamaica can be proud of. I want to challenge the authorities to ensure that when we come here next year for another celebration, there will not have to be a war to get the road repaired," said Hamilton.
He continued: "I want to have the roads fixed so that we can drive to Busta's place and feel comfortable. For too long we have had this problem and coming here is treacherous. It is dangerous. I am begging again, let's do something for the people of Blenheim because I believe there are more 'Bustas' in Blenheim and we must ensure that they are revealed."
Hamilton also seized the opportunity to highlight residents' plight with the lack of potable water and appealed for that to be remedied in short order.
"Every year is the same problem and the burden is on me," he asserted.
He called for all in attendance, including government ministers, to remember the principles Bustamante stood for and challenged all to embrace those values.
Responding almost instan-taneously, Finance Minister Audley Shaw, in his main address, instructed Hamilton to undertake an immediate survey of the roads leading up to Blenheim, so that he can have dialogue on the matter with Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry.
Shaw said he was hopeful that with all things being in place, funds could be realised to have the roads fixed ahead of next year's celebration.
"Let me have the survey as quickly as possible, as we are now in the process of constructing a new Budget. We will see the best that we can do," Shaw urged Hamilton.
'... Coming here is treacherous. I am begging again, let's do something ... because I believe there are more 'Bustas' in Blenheim and we must ensure that they are revealed.'