Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes, moved in a Motion in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Tuesday, August 26, in which he contended that the Government’s road infrastructure programme favoured the eastern end of the island more than the western section.

The Motion, which was debated for some five hours, brought denial by the Government which stressed that its development programme, including roads and various other social projects, was an island-wide undertaking for the welfare and progress of all the people.

Mr. Hughes’ Motion reads as follows: “WHEREAS in Jamaica each constituency benefits equally in terms of funding infrastructure development;
AND WHEREAS there are significant funds being spent on the paving of existing roads as well as the cutting and paving of new roads in the constituencies represented by the elected members in the Executive Council;

BE IT RESOLVED that the community roads in the three constituencies on the western portion of the island benefit in the same extent as the four constituencies on the eastern portion of the island.”

Mr. Hughes said people were talking about the imbalance and he linked this and party politics to the violent behaviour and rivalry of young people from various villages. The other Opposition Member, Edison Baird, also charged that the western areas of the island, including his Road North Constituency, were suffering from neglect in terms of roads.

Their claims were countered by Minister of Infrastructure, Kenneth Harrigan, who presented a list of planned and approved roads for the west, while stating that there were needs at Island Harbour, East End and other eastern and central areas which were being overlooked. Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming. also strongly defended the Government’s position. Apart from new and planned roads in the west, he referred to such other projects as the Youth Centre at Blowing Point, the proposed playing field and the port development project there as well as additional works in the pipeline for the western section. It is known that village roads all over the island have been one of the demands of the people everywhere in Anguilla.

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