Nelson Andrade Colmenares (left), coordinator, United Nation's Environment Programme Caribbean Regional Coordination Unit, at yesterday's Signing of Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the Goverment of Jamaica with Minister of Local Government and Environment, Dean Peart. The signing took place at the Local Government ministry's offices. The UN body will retain its Caribbean headquarters in Jamaica for the next five years. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

As the Government hammers out details to have the Broadgate bridge in St. Mary either repaired or replaced, Local Government Minister Dean Peart has blamed the collapse of the structure on the St. Mary Parish Council.

Last week, 14 people were injured, some seriously, when the huge swinging bridge which links Broadgate and Mahoe Hill in St. Mary suddenly collapsed into the river below.

At least 19 persons were on the bridge at the time. The residents were returning from a football match when the incident occurred.

Deny responsibility

Since then the National Works Agency and the St. Mary Parish Council have denied responsibility for the bridge.

But yesterday, while speaking to members of the media after signing an agreement to have the United Nations Environment Programme retain its Caribbean headquarters in Kingston, Mr. Peart asserted that the bridge was the responsibility of the parish council.

"That's the normal thing that happens in this country," he said. "When something happens that is good, everybody puts in a whole lot of appearance, but when something bad (happens), then nobody wants to take responsibility," he said.

Mr. Peart insisted that the last time the bridge was repaired the parish council did it. He said he had expected that the parish council would have done its estimates and done the proper maintenance of the bridge.

Repairs through the Council

He also said the Government, through the Ministry of Works, was looking at either repairing or building a new bridge.

"They are doing estimates; they are looking at the possibility of putting in a new bridge. They haven't come to a conclusion yet, but we are hoping to get something from them very soon," he said.

He indicated that the Government would be paying the medical expenses of the persons who were injured in the incident.