Railway clash - Parish council, JRC in tussle over scrap metal

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Boundbrook, Portland:

Quick action on the part of the Portland Parish Council prevented representatives from the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) from commencing the cutting-up of a train carriage and a turntable into scrap metal at the old railway station yesterday.

Earlier this week, the JRC made its intention known to the council that it was going to remove the items for them to be sold in the lucrative scrap-metal industry.

However, yesterday, when a team from the JRC arrived at the old railway station property at Boundbrook in Port Antonio with heavy-duty equipment to commence the cutting-up of the remains, it was prevented from doing so by a team from the Portland Parish Council including Mayor Floyd Patterson, with support from the Portland police.

"They arrived unannounced," said Patterson. He added: "They had every intention of carrying out their act without anybody knowing what they were up to. It was earlier this week that we had dialogue, and they stated their position as it relates to the carriage and the turntable. But they didn't have the decency to inform us about their coming, and to me this is paramount to disrespect."

Desire to preserve

Patterson explained that the council had clearly outlined its desire to the JRC to preserve the carriage and the turntable at its present location as they are part of the parish's heritage, and also part of Portland's rich history.

The team from the JRC, which was first spotted by curious residents, turned up shortly after noon with heavy-duty equipment, blowtorches, and other materials used for cutting metal; however, they were prevented from starting their operation after residents alerted the police and the parish council.

"I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know train," said Basil Beckford, an elderly resident from Boundbrook. "I want to tell them what it was like in the old days, and to show them the coach and the turntable. These things have been lying here for more than 30 years, and they are a part of our heritage."

Just last week, the JRC reportedly informed the parish council of its intention to transport the items to Kingston to be sold as scrap metal at a cost of $250,000.

The Portland Parish Council has already embarked on a beautification park in that area, with the intention of establishing a mini-museum.

In 1980, Hurricane Allen destroyed the entire railway line in Portland resulting in the termination of railway service to the parish.