Letter of the Day - An example of neglect

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ENSOM CITY and its neighbouring communities of Eltham Park and Gordon Pen have been experiencing a lack of attention for quite a while now and personally I dislike being cast as a peripheral member of an already neglected society.

I have high regard for myself and for the community in which I live and am singularly hurt when the route taxis deposit me on a main road that is more fit to be called a river-bed.

I understand that many other roads in Jamaica need fixing, but having an everyday experience of the ones in my area of residence, I am more confident in referring to them. The main road of Gordon Boulevard in my layman's opinion needs to be relaid.

Some concession must be made however, as the streets closest to the home of the local Councillor were fixed. They were also in a bad state and an indictment against the efficiency of the Councillor. I am glad they were repaired but these proximate roads only account for a small percentage of the damaged roads in Ensom.

I had hoped that with mote out of his eye, the plank that is the main road would have swiftly followed suit. No such luck, for at least two years since the minor riot of a demonstration staged by the taxi-men patches of asphalt struggle to retain a memory of the road that it once was.

I can understand a lack of funds. I can understand a "soon come" though it is hard for me to tolerate. I can understand technical setbacks. I can even understand the frustrated silence of citizens either dumbfounded by the insidiousness of the deterioration or a sense that the insecurity of tenancy affords them no right of complaint. I cannot understand however the silence of elected representatives on such a glaring example of neglect.

At this time the best response from government would be some heavy-duty vehicles and skilled engineers attending to Gordon Boulevard.

In the interim I am sure the residents of Ensom would not mind a word from the local representative or the MP on the status of plans (I am sure there are some) for the multiple fracture of a road system that exists in our community.

I am, etc.,

PETER ANGLIN

Spanish Town

St. Catherine

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