Political supporters clash during demonstration

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

NORWOOD, St James— Violence reared its ugly head during a demonstration over a dust nuisance affecting members of this community of St James yesterday morning after a stone-throwing bout between a JLP supporter and his PNP counterpart.

The short-lived altercation escalated from an exchange of harsh words between both men who were at the scene of a massive demonstration by scores of irate Norwood residents who protested over a dust nuisance which has been affecting them since the road was graded last year to facilitate repairs under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).

The two men were eventually restrained by other community members.

The residents used huge boulders and other debris to block several sections of the road, rendering it impassable to vehicular traffic.

The residents in the vicinity of the graded road complained of the heavy dust, which, among other things, covers their furniture, clothing and has raised health concerns.

The trees and cars parked along the roadway are heavily coated with the white dust which blows from the road.

Meanwhile, David Baugh, JLP councillor candidate for the Norwood Division, wants the work to commence along the roadway even as the probe into the JDIP is underway.

“The money was allocated under JDIP, they are conducting an investigation of JDIP but they don't have to stop fixing the road. All they have to do is to finish the road. Finish the road, put it in a state that people breathing don't have problem with the dust, put it in a state that it stop affecting people, let us finish the thing, the community needs it,” Baugh demanded.