Industry/ Plaisance NDC Vice Chair slams former PNC Chair for spewing unfounded allegations of racism

DISAPPOINTED but not surprised’ were the words used by current Vice-Chair of the Industry/ Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Vanessa Benn, when describing the unfounded allegations of racism uttered by former Chair Rodwell Lewis.
In a statement Wednesday that was aimed at shutting down the untruths being peddled by Lewis, Benn said the community is able to see brighter prospects with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) taking charge.

“Things are not the same. What our commitment is and remains to be to the persons in our NDC is that we will address all the ills that are occurring,” the Vice Chair said.
Noting that the current council inherited a neighborhood with deplorable roads, poor drainage and irrigation, among other issues, she stated that they are working assiduously to fix any problems plaguing Industry/Plaisance.
In response to the accusations made by Lewis, Benn said: “Having a listen at what was said, the statement that was made by the former chairman, part of it, I was not surprised but I must say I’m disappointed.”

The current Vice Chair further remarked that she does not know what could have sparked the rampage that the former Chair embarked on. Notwithstanding this, she called for this behavior to end, as the goal was to better the lives of the people and not to push for disunity.

“…I hope that going forward we can continue to be committed to improve our services that the NDC provides to the residents of our community,” Benn stated.
She also remarked that she and her councilors can now hold such a position because of the people’s rule and their strong belief that the PPP will deliver on their promises.
“The PPP/C portfolio and contingents that step forward and contested were elected by the people and we are delivering on the promises we made,” she remarked.
Additionally, addressing the removal of vendors, Benn said: “To my knowledge, this has not been done by the NDC and in any case, this falls outside of the purview of the NDC.”
The Vice Chair further highlighted that it is sad to see the ethnicity of those vendors being at the forefront of the argument put forth by Lewis.

Referencing the meeting with the vendors of the Plaisance ‘Line Top’ and the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Benn said that she was present, and the discussions were informative.
Dr. Jagdeo in June reiterated the PPP government’s commitment to working along with the vendors of the Plaisance ‘Line Top’ to find a practical, accommodating solution as the government proceeds with road expansion works along the Railway Embankment.
During a Facebook live, Lewis implied vendors were being removed because of their ethnicity.
He said: “The individual selling plants, see who is vending there. Get over Ogle old road bridge and you will see who is vending there. A little before Ogle Road, the traffic light, you will see who is vending there.”

Lewis then went on to say: “Maybe they’re on a campaign, yes, but the campaign is to just to remove our African brothers and sisters.”
Emphasising that she and the other councilors are committed to serving the people, Benn stated: “… We [NDC councilors] would like to see the persons who ply their trade and support their livelihood through vending being able to continue vending in a safe environment but ensure that they comply with the relevant laws.”
While reflecting on the massive transformations that the community is undergoing, she said: “It is our hope that the development will match what is happening in our NDC.”
Moreover, Benn said that development cannot be achieved if there is disunity and race bait tactics being deployed.

She related: “We can only have the kind of development happening if we do this through teamwork and not through casting sporous allegations and very unfortunate racial allegations against persons, that are unfounded.”