Harris fumes over beach lease
Published:Tuesday | May 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Ruddy Mathison, Gleaner Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:
A DECISION of the Trelawny Parish Council to lease the government-owned Burwood public beach near Falmouth, has drawn sharp criticisms from northern Trelawny Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Patrick Harris.
Dr Harris, in a stinging rebuke, said the parish council policies have led to the divestment of the only public beach for residents of Trelawny and the erection of a helicopter landing pad near the Falmouth Police Station, infirmary, parish library, and the all-age school.
Dr Harris said the People's National Party during its tenure in office did everything to preserve the beach for the people of parish and any other Jamaican who wanted to use the facility. He said there was no reason why the parish council was unable to adequately maintain the beach for the citizens of the parish. The MP said no effort will be spared to get the council to reverse its decision.
Turning to the recently constructed helicopter landing pad on Government lands along Rodney Street, Harris, who has announced his intention to step down from representational politics, said, "the parish council cannot use income as a consideration to position a helipad beside a school, library, police station, recreational area and infirmary." He urged the parish council to reconsider these decisions in the interest of the people.
improve conditions
Meanwhile, Mayor of Falmouth Collen Gager has disclosed that the council, in an effort to improve conditions at the publicly owned Burwood Beach, entered into a lease contract with private interests. He stated that the lessees, responsibilities include the general maintenance and upkeep of sanitary facilities as well as the cleaning of the beach. Gager said the upkeep of the facilities was creating a tremendous drag on the public purse.
On the issue of the helipad, the mayor disclosed that a private company entered into a lease contract with the council to establish a site from which helicopter tours could be conducted. This, he said, is in keeping with the drive to provide additional attraction for visitors and locals who can afford such attractions.