MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A political dispute has emerged regarding road infrastructure management in Manchester’s Knockpatrick division, pitting local Councillor Karl Smith against Member of Parliament Rhoda Crawford. The conflict arose following Crawford’s public criticism of the Manchester Municipal Corporation and councillors for their perceived inadequate response to repairing parochial roads.
The controversy intensified when placard-carrying residents from Brokenhurst staged protests against the deteriorating condition of their main road and the Patrick Town community roadway. Crawford, representing the governing Jamaica Labour Party, subsequently questioned Smith’s awareness of division boundaries, asserting that most of Brokenhurst falls within Manchester Southern rather than his Knockpatrick jurisdiction.
In a detailed Thursday statement, Councillor Smith (People’s National Party) offered a substantive rebuttal while advocating for non-partisan cooperation. He acknowledged the legitimate concerns about road conditions but emphasized that these infrastructure challenges resulted from long-standing systemic issues rather than recent neglect.
“The deterioration of these roads has been the result of longstanding issues, including years of underfunding, weather impact, and increased usage,” Smith stated, adding that suggesting otherwise would misrepresent the situation to constituents.
The councillor defended his territorial knowledge, affirming his comprehensive understanding of Knockpatrick’s boundaries. He highlighted his administration’s accomplishments despite resource constraints, having successfully overseen repairs and rehabilitation works on more than twenty roads across the division through strategic prioritization and collaborative advocacy.
Smith called for a bipartisan approach to infrastructure development, emphasizing that road rehabilitation transcends political affiliations and directly impacts families, farmers, students, and local businesses. He expressed commitment to engaging Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie and relevant stakeholders to secure additional funding.
Expressing disappointment at the political tone of the discourse, Smith concluded: “Our constituents deserve representation that rises above political point-scoring and focuses instead on practical solutions and measurable progress.”