THE EDITOR: SirWE HAVE sent the following letter to the Hon Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works:
Dear Minister Pickersgill,
The St. Thomas Association of Community Development Committees (STACDC) is the umbrella organisation representing community groups in the parish of St. Thomas. We hereby seek audience with you within the next two weeks from November 26, 2003, to ascertain when the bridge spanning the Yallahs River where the fording used to be will be built.
The lack of this bridge stifles all possibilities of economic growth in the parish as there is no dependable way for people, goods or services to be brought into or leave the parish. Driving through the river bed which is presently the main entrance creates a severe dust nuisance to the commuting public and more so the surrounding communities, with the resultant respiratory problems and extreme wear and tear to motor vehicles. The river can also be in spate without rain falling in the area thus the possibility of people and vehicles being washed away unexpectedly. One vehicle was washed over the fording a week ago because of this phenomenon.
Should there be heavy rains like the rains of October 2002, the communities from Albion to Yallahs Bay would be flooded with the possibility of loss of life and loss of property. The alternate route is very narrow and winding with craters running across the road and the bridge which almost forms an "L" with the road cannot accommodate vehicles over 12 tons!
Sir, as you can understand, St. Thomas is basically cut off economically from the rest of Jamaica. Bearing in mind that St. Thomas is the only parish that Highway 2000 does not connect to, we wonder if this is a deliberate act to ensure that no sustainable development can take place in the parish thus continuing Queen Victoria's attitude at the time of the Morant Bay Rebellion, but trust that this is not so.
You may contact me, Emerson James at telephone number 982-3534 or 792-6918 as to what date and time is convenient for you.
I am, etc.,
EMERSON JAMES
Chairman, STACDC
