Henry Says ‘Cosmetic’ Solution to Palisadoes Issue Unacceptable

KINGSTON — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon Mike Henry, says that despite claims of some level of resolution of security challenges at the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Project site in East Kingston, there are still serious security issues to be resolved.

"I am not into cosmetic resolution of problems, then getting back to square one in no time and having to work on the problems all over,” Mr. Henry said.

He added that he is still awaiting a final report from the National Works Agency (NWA), following a series of meetings held since the issue arose nearly two weeks ago. He said the report should be available by Friday, and the details will inform his overall handling of the matter.

Mr. Henry said the history of strong-arm tactics on major public infrastructure projects in the East Kingston area, coupled with clarity that unofficial 'peace officers' on the site had become part of the security problems there, has created a need for more concrete steps towards a long-term resolution of the problems, “not the fragile understanding that has so far been achieved."

The Minister said another major concern was the basis on which union representatives had planted themselves within the project environment, without any official engagement, and had managed to take very influential positions in meetings held since the problems arose.

He also noted that the same union representatives were not even masking their political agendas, and were visibly condoning the actions of those behind the security threats on the work site.

"I am about dealing with the problems from a symptomatic perspective. To resolve them, once and for all, that is where I am heading, and what needs to be done in this case, will definitely be done," he stated.

By Balford Henry, JIS Reporter