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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Wheatley Calls on the # Jamaican...ry (Gleaner)...</span>
CHAIRMAN OF the St Catherine Parish Council, Dr Andrew Wheatley, wants the Government to put an end to the scrap-metalindustry.Speaking during the council's monthly meeting last Thursday, Wheatley asserted that despite Government's efforts to regulate the trade, scrap-metal thieves continue to destroy the council's assets and the parish'sinfrastructure."When Tropical Storm Tomas was coming, we took down the parish council's billboard, and when we went to put up back the billboard they took down one of the those big 20x32-foot metal frame at Old Harbour roundabout. It disappeared, completely disappeared," an angry Wheatley stated.He continued, "We are also suffering as it relates to the manhole covers, and I've seen where the signposts that we have erected throughout the townships of Spanish Town, Old Harbour and Linstead have been removed as soon as we put them up. Stop signs, as a matter of fact, even our bridges, the metal that hold up our bridges are being removed," the mayor declared.It was because of this, that a resolute Wheatley called for the council's support to ask the minister of industry and commerce to discontinue the trade - permanently.His call was fully backed by Michael Edwards, councillor for Greater Portmore division.However, while agreeing that more stringent measures must be implemented to deter the action of the rogue traders, Denise Daley, councillor for the Linstead division, suggested that they should be mindful that the industry still provided some level of employment."While we are anxious to ensure that we have order ... we have to understand that it still creates some livelihood, and we have to remember that the unemployment situation in Jamaica is very, very grim," noted Daley.At the same time, Enos Lawrence, councillor for the De la Vega division, said a study should be conducted to assess the impact before a definitive decision was taken."We need to do a study, whether at the parish level or at the national level, to come to a final decision. I am not aware of a study being done. I am aware of discussions at various levels, but in terms of a study, I am just recommending that we need to look into the situation more in-depth," Lawrence proposed.After rigorous arguments from members of both sides, a resolution was voted on. The majority gave their approval and the resolution was duly passed.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Wheatley Calls on the # Jamaican...ry (Gleaner)...</span>
CHAIRMAN OF the St Catherine Parish Council, Dr Andrew Wheatley, wants the Government to put an end to the scrap-metalindustry.Speaking during the council's monthly meeting last Thursday, Wheatley asserted that despite Government's efforts to regulate the trade, scrap-metal thieves continue to destroy the council's assets and the parish'sinfrastructure."When Tropical Storm Tomas was coming, we took down the parish council's billboard, and when we went to put up back the billboard they took down one of the those big 20x32-foot metal frame at Old Harbour roundabout. It disappeared, completely disappeared," an angry Wheatley stated.He continued, "We are also suffering as it relates to the manhole covers, and I've seen where the signposts that we have erected throughout the townships of Spanish Town, Old Harbour and Linstead have been removed as soon as we put them up. Stop signs, as a matter of fact, even our bridges, the metal that hold up our bridges are being removed," the mayor declared.It was because of this, that a resolute Wheatley called for the council's support to ask the minister of industry and commerce to discontinue the trade - permanently.His call was fully backed by Michael Edwards, councillor for Greater Portmore division.However, while agreeing that more stringent measures must be implemented to deter the action of the rogue traders, Denise Daley, councillor for the Linstead division, suggested that they should be mindful that the industry still provided some level of employment."While we are anxious to ensure that we have order ... we have to understand that it still creates some livelihood, and we have to remember that the unemployment situation in Jamaica is very, very grim," noted Daley.At the same time, Enos Lawrence, councillor for the De la Vega division, said a study should be conducted to assess the impact before a definitive decision was taken."We need to do a study, whether at the parish level or at the national level, to come to a final decision. I am not aware of a study being done. I am aware of discussions at various levels, but in terms of a study, I am just recommending that we need to look into the situation more in-depth," Lawrence proposed.After rigorous arguments from members of both sides, a resolution was voted on. The majority gave their approval and the resolution was duly passed.