By George Henry, Gleaner WriterMANCHESTER:
DEPUTY MAYOR of Mandeville Sally Porteous says she needs help in erecting signs around the central Jamaica town.
The deputy mayor was addressing taxi operators at the official launch of the Manchester Taxi Association at the Astra Hotel in Mandeville Manchester last week.
Mrs. Porteous said she wanted to continue her programme of installing road signs in and around that rural township. She stressed the need for more road signs to be installed in the parish, but according to her, the Manchester Parish Council lacks the necessary funding.
The deputy mayor told the meeting that each sign costs $5,000 to construct, adding that a number of persons have approached her showing their willingness to contribute to the cause. So far, she said, over 20 signs have been constructed, waiting for the Minister's permission for installation.
Ms. Porteous said she has had to affix the names of business entities who have contributed to the construction as part of a small promotion and said that by so doing the price per sign now cost $1,000 each.
Appealing to Mr. Pickersgill for his permission to install the signs which have already been constructed, she explained that a group of volunteers have come forward to assist her in the installation process.
Meanwhile, the deputy mayor is proposing that the Transport Authority offices in Mandeville be relocated. According to her, the present location of that office does not provide for ample parking space and has been a source of inconvenience to taxi operators who go there to transact business.
Mrs. Porteous has suggested that the office be moved to Levy Lane in the town where there is more than sufficient space for parking.
Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works, told the operators that they were in a position to help or break the reputation of a country. He described them as ambassadors for Jamaica.
