THE people of St John want a piece of the pie too.
According to Member of Parliament for St John Mara Thompson, while speaking in the House of Assembly, yesterday, there is much work to be done to enhance the living conditions of her constituents.
She said the residents of that parish were pleased at the completion of the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex, which serves the entire parish and beyond in many different ways.
The Member of Parliament noted that her constituents also welcomed the refurbished post office at Four Roads, St John, the “spanking new” Lodge School, the newly built pavillion at Gall Hill playing field and the gift of a parcel of land at Hothersal for the recreational use of the residents.
However, she said there are some matters about which the people of that parish are not pleased, including a poor bus system and bad roads.
“[The residents are not pleased about] the buses that don’t come on time, or don’t come at all, namely the Sargeant’s Street bus and the Martins Bay bus. They are not pleased about the lack of action in acquiring the ground at College Savannah where Sussex Cricket Club plays cricket. I have written numerous letters.
“They are not pleased about the condition of the St John’s Primary School and the closure of Society Primary School and they are horrified as I am at being told that the new school to house the students of these two schools will be located at the site of the old outpatients clinic at Gall Hill – absurd idea. They have told me to say right here on the floor today that they will not permit this to happen,” she said.
The Member of Parliament said the residents were also unhappy with the condition of many of the roads throughout the parish. She said too many of the roads are in dreadful conditions and have been destroying vehicles.
“I can name them: Ashford, Pot House Hill, Stewart Hill, Martins Bay and Foster Hall. Oh gosh, Foster Hall. When you drive along Foster Hall you feel as though the car is going to capsize. Gall Hill, Newcastle, Welch, as you take the bend off of Coach Hill and go into Welch, it is just rut, pothole, bump, crater, depreciation of cars, angry constituents and an angry Member of Parliament. I have written numerous letters and spoken to the relevant Minister. . .I could go on and on Mr Speaker,” she said.
“Now Mr Speaker, you and I are aware that the pie of which all of us would like a piece of actually the size of a cup cake. But my point is that whatever size the piece is, St John demands its share,” Thompson added. (AH)