Left: This motorist makes his way down from Garvey Square and on to Garvey Drive, in Glendevon, Montego Bay, St. James. One miscalculated move could lead to some serious repair costs.   Right: A view of Garvey Drive in Glendevon, Montego Bay. It is surely not a sight for sore eyes. - Photos by Marlon Vickerman

WHAT'S NOT WORKING?

Simply put, the roads in Norwood in Montego Bay, St. James, are desperately in need of repair. Residents claim this has been the case for more than five years.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SITUATION:

Many potholes have taken up permanent residence, it seems, on some roads in the community while rocks protrude from some sections of other thoroughfares. The need for road repairs in the vicinity of Garvey Square, Garvey Drive and Irie Lane, just to name a few, is an added woe to a community already being ripped apart by a spate of violence.

According to Hyacinth Scarlett, Garvey Drive resident, forthe past 30 years, road repairs were last done in the area when she was 10 years old. Since then there have only been promises and the 'Band-aid' approach of marl being thrown on the roads to provide a quick fix which is easily nullified by heavy rains.

"It is no secret that the road waan fix, because even Dr. Horace Chang did come tour de area last year and look at the condition, so I'm sure the authorities know the roads bad," she said. "Not even the taxi man dem nuh waan really come down here on Garvey Drive. As a matter of fact, the fare is $50, and just to come on Garvey Drive result in that fare being doubled."

Rosie, another resident of Garvey Drive, echoed Ms. Scarlett's statements. She said the road had been left to deteriorate over the past five years as the St. James Parish Council has seemingly washed its hands clean of its responsibilities where road repairs in the community are concerned.

Wilbert Gordon, Norwood resident since 1979, said the word that best describes the overall condition of roads in the area is disgraceful.

"Bwoy, mi nuh know why the road dem can't be fixed. In all my years I live here roads always in need of fixing and they are not getting addressed," he said.

"Look at Irie Lane, for example, it well waan likkle fixing. Right ya now if someone up there sick or have an emergency dem affi go struggle and come out on de main and try get help or transport, I mean dem tings deh nuh right, people paying tax, deal wid we better," he demanded.

Not before long Mr. 'Irie Lane' himself was seen descending from Irie Lane. He is Wilbert Archer, and the road is named after his alias 'Irie' because he ever so often takes upon himself the task of repairing it.

Sad to say, however, the present state of Irie Lane shows that the sincere efforts of Archer and other residents just will not suffice.

Archer said the task is an expensive and painstaking one. He explained that he and other residents have to source the funding themselves to fix the roads and, when those desperate attempts fail because of scarce resources, the roads deteriorate even more.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

The St. James Parish Council

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Ian Reid, secretary/manager, said he had no knowledge of the need for road repairs in the sections of Norwood mentioned in the article. However, he pledged that he would contact the road and works department and review the issue.

CONCLUSION:

The St. James Parish Council is asleep in the driver's seat. How is it possible that roads in your municipality could be in need of repairs for five years, or more in some instances, and the local authority has failed to do anything about it? That screams dereliction of duty.

This is yet another instance of abandoned responsibility by the parish council. Again, we see where residents are left to fend for themselves where repairing roads is concerned.

We eagerly look forward to the day when our news team will contact a parish council and be greeted with the news that work is about to get started on the area in question. Until then, the Watch continues.

Done by Marlon Vickerman, Gleaner Writer

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