8th District representative Dancia Penn QC says millions was spent in district despite not being always present . Photo: VINO

Government signed a contract on February 26, 2010 with Neville Smith of International Construction Ltd. in the amount of $2,981,481.84 for the construction of the Francis Lettsome Primary School. The project started on March 22, 2010. Photo: GIS

Reflecting on the song ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’ by Evita, the former Attorney General, Deputy Governor and Court of Appeal Judge said “the truth is I never left you and have always been with you and there for you very much in my heart and very much doing what I considered you elected me to do and what I have considered has been in your best interest”.

On that note she said some 2.9 million dollars was invested in the construction of the Francis Lettsome Primary School and that some five local contractors were used. Hon. Penn said the date for the official reopening of that school will be announced soon. Several hundred thousands of dollars, she also said, was spent on the construction of the Greenland Field, which is still under construction. Hon. Penn described the field as an important part in the life of the community and even though the project has encountered obstacles, she said it is well on its way to completion and will have more facilities than it had in the past.

Will not fool people about when they can “flush”

Addressing the very familiar but serious topic of sewerage disposal, Hon. Penn said the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project was a very complex one and she would not lie to the people and gave them a date for when they would be able to “flush”. “There are complex aspects of it to be decided including land and the use of land for proper erection and proper placement of various aspects of the project. It is far better for us ladies and gentlemen to do it properly than to rush it and for me to come here tonight and fool you and say you will be able to flush on a date when I know fully well you are not going to be able to flush.”

The district representative also spoke of the cemetery in Greenland and the need to acquire more land for future expansion. She noted that in 2003 the cemetery walls were broken by heavy rain and was promptly fixed when she got into office in 2007. She announced too that physical work for the new section of the cemetery at Greenland has been completed and very soon burials would commence there.

The Minister for Health and Social Development also disclosed that a plan has been designed for a modern clinic to serve East End and Long Look and surrounding communities.

Addressing the East End Water Front Harbour Project, Hon. Penn said titles for the lands in that area remain a key question. “And don’t be fooled by the grand pictures you are seeing for development there. We know this community and the history of land ownership including at that waterfront.”

The woman regarded by many as a “States woman”, who represents the Territory abroad with distinction, also said there were many things that she would have wished to do and said among the unfinished business were the development of the Long Bay Beach and noted that a suitable area at that beach is being looked at for the construction of bathrooms and concession facilities, the upgrading of certain main roads and placing of pavements, however, this was delayed due to the ongoing sewerage project, and improve street lighting, and she hopes in the next few weeks more lights would be installed.

Moving away from the District, Hon. Penn said she was “dealt a hand” when she inherited the biggest project in the territory- the construction of the new Peebles Hospital and with not even half of the money needed to complete the project, but that she was nevertheless taking on the challenge to get it done.

She said the hospital would be fully equipped with modern technological facilities and include various specialities including for mental patients. “It is entirely swimming against the tide to lock mentally ill persons in institutions. That was a very bad history of dealing with mentally ill people. The trend in the world now in dealing with those persons is in community health facilities and providing proper hospitalization and other institutional care for them. That is what government is working for.”

And clearing the air on rumours that she has been responsible for the Bupa Insurance contract and the difficulties that have been created, Hon. Penn said the truth is “health insurance for the public sector here is part of the responsibility of the Governor and the office of the Deputy Governor. No Minister of Government has responsibility for health insurance at the present time. And that is because providing health insurance is part of the terms and conditions that civil servants and public servants enjoy”.

The District 8 representative so far has three challengers going to the polls on November 7, 2011. They are National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Marlon Penn and Independent candidates Als’ Nolan Davis and Bevis Sylvester.