Lucea’s New Mayor Targetting Priority Engagements

Newly installed Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Wynter McIntosh, has listed increased investments, crime reduction, and improved sanitation across the parish of Hanover, among the priority engagements he will be targeting during his tenure.

Speaking with JIS News, Councillor McIntosh, who was installed and assumed Chairmanship of the Hanover Parish Council in August, says he plans to pursue these activities in partnership with representatives of governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations.

He advises that he will be meeting with the representatives of the parish’s business community shortly to explore the possibility of reviving the Hanover Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and leveraging the organization’s input in helping to attract and facilitate investments.

“We need to start seeing some major investments coming into this town (of Lucea and, by extension, the wider parish of Hanover). The two Members of Parliament (Dr. D. K. Duncan-Eastern Hanover; and Hon. Ian Hayles-Western Hanover) have given their commitment that they will be on board supporting the efforts of the Council as we seek to move the parish forward. I want to involve everyone who has an interest in the growth and development of the parish, on my team,” he adds.

While tourism and agriculture are, currently, the main employment and income generation sectors in Hanover. Councillor McIntosh says he aims to advance plans and proposals to potential investors to reopen the two former garment manufacturing plants, located in Lucea and Sandy Bay that were previously operated under the Jockey brand name.

“I am hoping that when I meet with stakeholders in the parish…a few of those investors will come on board and request the facilities for employment generating businesses. I want to see a reduction in the number of unemployed youths, and the two former Jockey factories can play a major role in that area. I will also be trying to have discussions with the Investment and Tourism Ministers to see how best we can have those factories back into operation,” he states.

Regarding crime, the Mayor notes growing concern among residents over the continued increase in illicit activities across the parish. In light of this he says he plans to meet with the Hanover Police High Command to discuss how best the matter can be decisively addressed.

“Hanover was ranked among the safest parishes in Jamaica; but the monster of crime has been escalating. The Police, the citizens…everyone will have to be part of a team in order to rid the parish of this monster. I will be meeting shortly with the Police in order to ask for more community policing across the parish. I know the officers are competent and I have every confidence that we can come up with other strategies in order to rid the parish of crime and criminals,” he points out.

As a precursor to these engagements, Mr. McIntosh says he and several Council members conducted a recent walk-through across Lucea, to get a first-hand look of the town’s physical state, to determine the areas in need of interventions that will better position the parish for realization of the targets identified.

Key focus, he informs, will be placed on giving Lucea a general facelift, particularly targeting old buildings, as well as undertaking drain cleaning.

“In terms of the old derelict buildings in the town, some will be demolished and, if necessary, rebuilt, using modern architecture. We also need to look at upgrading and improving some major points of interests in the town such as Fort Charlotte, Watson Taylor Park, and the Lucea Infirmary, among others,” he outlines.

In relation to drain cleaning, Mr. McIntosh says this is an area that needs to be addressed “in a fulsome manner.” He contends that “residents of the parish are demanding that the capital be cleaned, and we will ensure that it is done.”

To this end, he informs that a major drain cleaning programme is to be implemented across Lucea, and its environs.

“I have put in place a management team, (comprising persons) outside of the Hanover Parish Council, to oversee (these activities) and advise (me)….in order for us to fully explore the development of the parish,” he informs.

The Mayor, who is also Councillor for the Chester Castle Division of the Hanover Parish Council, says the team comprises members of Hanover’s private sector as well as the “ordinary man in the street”, who have an interest in the parish’s growth and development.