By Adrian Frater, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
DEPLORABLE ROAD conditions, inadequate piped water and the absence of electricty forced scores of irate placard-bearing residents of Mud City in Gutters, St. James, on Monday to block the main road leading to their community.
"We have been suffering over the years and nobody seem to care about us," said Gina Chambers, one of the protesting residents.
"The potholes have driven away most of the taxi-drivers and as a result, we are forced to walk long distances day and night," she added.
According to Ms. Chambers, the few drivers who are willing to brave the route by day usually withdraw their service at nights out of fear of criminals who have been known to use the cover of darkness created by the absence of streetlights, to rob motorists.
NUMEROUS PLEAS IGNORED
The residents, who used trees, boulders, old cars and other debris to block the road, charged that the existing conditions have been ignored by the authorities for the past 14 years. They said their numerous pleas for help from their political leaders have been ignored.
"It can't be right for us to be walking with pans of water on our heads from Granville (just over a mile away) in these civilised times," said Samuel Spence, who was adamant that the roadblocks would continue until the authorities address their plight.
"This is not 1914 it is 2003, people should not have to block roads for basic things like light and water," he continued.
BLOCKED IN
Constable Peter Salkey, the Constabulary Communication Network's liaison officer for St. James who was among a large contingent of police personnel deployed to the area to clear the roadblocks, said the residents started their action from as early as 4:00 a.m. and as a result, some persons woke up to find themselves blocked into the area. This prevented them from going to work.
"We have been clearing the roads and we have asked the residents to co-operate with us," said Corporal Salkey. "They have been giving us their co-operation but they are nonetheless concerned about whether or not their concerns will be addressed."
When the office of Michael Troupe, the Councillor for the area was contacted, a spokesperson told The Gleaner that the Councillor was aware of the situation although he had not personally visited the area. She said that while she could not speak to the matter of light and water, she knew that plans were in place to fix the road.
