A Newfield resident told Prime Minister Gaston Browne during a town hall meeting that the community has been “overlooked” for more than a decade, saying “nothing has changed” in the area despite repeated election promises.

Speaking during the question-and-answer segment, Carolyn Thomas said that for “about 14 years” Newfield has seen no meaningful infrastructure development.

“Every building, every road, everything has stayed stuck in time. Nothing has changed,” she said. “We have so much land but no infrastructure change has happened, no form of development in my area.”

Thomas questioned what had become of commitments made during past election cycles, asking repeatedly, “What happens to Newfield?”

She added, however, that since Randy Baltimore became caretaker for the constituency, she had seen some movement.

“What I can say is that so far I’ve seen that he has been making progress, with the roads being fixed and it’s being done,” she said, urging the government to support Baltimore if elected.

“I am asking the government to support him when we put him there. When he asks for infrastructure and housing, give it to us. When he asks for roads, give it to us. When he asks to help young children get scholarships and develop our community, give it to us.”

Prime Minister Browne responded by pointing to works already undertaken in Newfield, including road repaving and upgrades to the community basketball court.

“There have been a number of roads that have been repaved within the constituency, including Newfield,” Browne said. “We also resurfaced the basketball court… it now has lights, and someone will be doing the marking out and paving it with the top surface.”

He said discussions are already underway with Baltimore, whom he described as the “incoming representative,” to construct additional homes in the constituency.

Browne also referenced the government’s entrepreneurial fund and scholarship programmes, encouraging residents seeking financial support to work through Baltimore.

Baltimore followed the Prime Minister’s remarks by outlining additional plans specific to Newfield. He confirmed that the basketball court has been paved and will be marked, and said a new playground facility will be installed for children in the area.

He added that road resurfacing will continue and that arrangements have been made with the Central Housing and Planning Authority to clear overgrown trees in the community. A crew from Solid Waste is also expected to assist with cleanup efforts.

Baltimore further disclosed that land has been identified for a housing project in Newfield, with plans to allow young residents to access home ownership opportunities.

The exchange unfolded as part of the March 16 by-election campaign in St. Philip’s North, with development, infrastructure and youth opportunities emerging as dominant themes during the town hall session.