How Christie could have spent that $200k for his constituency
NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:
RESIDENTS of Farm Road and Centerville - the constituency represented by opposition leader Perry Christie - have many ideas about how $200,000 could be spent in their area.
Some community members were unaware of the funds available to their representative. Others said they had a "big problem" with it.
"I was trying to figure out what he was doing with the money a long time ago. I do have a problem with it. I would like to see them add a playground for the children. Put computers in the community centre; put a building up for the after school programme so the children don't have to work out in the yard," said Janice Farrington, a Farm Road resident.
Between 2007 and 2009, Mr Christie spent only $31,000 of a possible $200,000 worth of funds in his constituency allowance. The accumulated money rolled over three years, but was set to be redistributed when the 2009/2010 budget year ended Wednesday. Minister of State Zhivargo Laing said that due to the government's tight fiscal position, constituency allowances were not being rolled over.
Given the politics of Farm Road and Centerville, a constituency member said the actions of Mr Christie would not affect him politically, because there is a strong allegiance to the Progressive Liberal Party.
One resident said even if the money were spent, community members would still question what the money was spent on. Depending on where it was spent the question of favouritsm might arise. He said unless the residents received direct benefit from the money, they would likely be indifferent or have complaints.
"No one would even worry themselves about that now, unless the opposition makes a flair of it. They are caught up in the hoopla; they don't even know what the man stands for. They go to rallies to drink and have fun, but they don't follow the issues," said Ras Charlie, a resident in the community, whose family lived there from the 1930s.
He said money could be used to train small business owners in the community, to provide computers and training in computer technology. He said the two local Junknaoo groups, One Family and the Music Makers, would welcome access to the funds. He said local parks were in need of refurbishing, and some schools might need resources.
"People in the community have an attachment to the party. He is the face of the party, but really whoever is the party leader it is the party they support. They say he is still a weak leader. They admit that amongst themselves, but they will still support him because they support the party," said Ras Charlie.
Before the cut off date, Mr Christie submitted requests for the funds to be used to purchase interactive whiteboards, desks, projectors and other items to benefit local schools.
Mr Christie said he made a request in 2008 for the funds to be used to purchase a plot of land next to the Joe Billy/Blind Blake Park in Fowler Street, as well as property near the Hay Street Park and the Sunlight Village Park. He did not confirm the status of the request until The Tribune broke the news that his funds were in jeopardy of being reallocated by the government.
Community members said they recalled hearing about Mr Christie trying to purchase land to expand the parks, but that was a "long time ago."
Mr Christie admitted that the did not feel rushed to spend the allowance because "he was assured that the money would be carried over."
"Plenty people are not aware of it. If you tell them now, they would be trying to figure out what you are talking about. I would use the $200,000 to hire small time workers from the ghetto to redo the bathrooms in the park, not big time contractors. Get the people from the ghetto who have skills and put them to work," said Mr Sears, a constituency member.
"I would use the money to fix up people's houses: change boards, fix the roofs, put bathrooms on. Some people still do not have bathrooms on their houses. That is what people want. For years they were supposed to build a concrete concession stand for the park a long time ago. They were supposed to take down the fence and build a wall," said Mr Sears.
July 05, 2010
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