The Editor, Sir:

The citizens of Portland continue to experience severe hardships and extreme suffering as a result of the deplorable conditions of the roads leading to the parish. The western access to the parish from St Mary is disgraceful, as a result of the less-than-adequate management of the highway construction by the contractors.

The hazardous state of the road, between Annotto Bay and St Margaret's Bay, which has existed for several months, demonstrates the callous disregard that the contractors have for the motoring public. The eastern access, extending from Hectors River to Port Antonio, was severely damaged by Hurricane Dean, but has received little attention.

This whole situation is com-pounded by the chronic neglect of the roads in the Rio Grande Valley. Repeated visits by the prime minister and the minister of transport and works to the parish have done little to ease the suffering of the over 80,000 citizens of the parish who have to traverse these roads daily.

As member of parliament, I have tabled a resolution in Parliament, as well as asked questions about the matter.

Rehabilitate the roads

I have also written to and invited the minister of transport and works to Portland to see first-hand, the sorry state of affairs which exist. Five weeks have passed since his visit, but the situation remains the same.

I am calling upon the Government to: (1) Allocate emergency funds to rehabilitate the roads in Portland. (2) Demand and insist that the contractors of the North Coast Highway improve the supervision and management of the construction of the highway.

I am, etc.,

Dr DONALD RHODD MP

East Portland