Allen: Retirement is no longer a preferred residential location. - File

WESTERN BUREAU:

RESIDENTS OF Retirement, St James, who believe that the community's potential for development is being undermined by poor living conditions, are calling on the Government to intervene.

"Retirement has vast potential and it must be arrested now, it must be harnessed now," said chairman of the Retirement Development Trust (RDT), O. Dave Allen.

Allen was speaking at a meeting of the RDT on Sunday evening at the Granville Anglican Church Hall.

"Currently, Retirement is no longer a preferred residential location given the high level of crime and violence that has visited the community in recent times," said Allen as he recounted the contents of the letter to Member of Parliament (MP) Clive Mullings, who was absent from the meeting after promising to attend.

Efforts by The Gleaner to contact the minister proved futile.

STREETLIGHTS NEEDED

Allen explained that the community hoped that the MP, who is also the minister of energy, will aid them in securing streetlights and improving the electrical distribution in the area.

Residents said that streetlights, better roads and running water would lure commercial interests to the community and enhance the property value.

Citizens said the absence of streetlights also made them vulnerable to criminals, adding that some cabbies avoid driving into the community because they often fall prey to robberies.

They also expressed concern that since the National Housing Develop-ment Corporation (NHDC) was rebranded, there has been no development in the area. As a result, they have written to the management of the NHDC and are awaiting a response as to the organisation's role in the development of the area.