Erica James-King, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU: DESPITE THE best efforts of the National Works Agency (NWA) to clear roadways in western Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, scores of persons are still marooned in the Tangle River area of south St. James.

Reports from the NWA are that the Tangle River/Flamstead main road is severely eroded by landslides, and some sections of the roadway are also clogged by debris. Entry to or exit from the community using that road is impossible.

"That road has fallen prey to landslides so it is severely eroded. It will need a massive amount of work," said Steven Shaw, the National Works Agency's western regional community relations officer. "We have not yet succeeded in having that roadway free to the travelling public."

MAJOR ROADWAYS CLEARED

In the meantime, the NWA teamed up with the Parish Councils and the Jamaica Fire Brigade yesterday to clear most major roadways across western Jamaica.

Among the roads which were cleared of fallen trees and debris by teams from the NWA and the parish councils were the Brandon Hill main road, Sunset Boulevard, Tucker/Erwin, Green Pond, Pitfour, Bogue, and Barnett /Adelphi roads in St. James, as well as sections of the Salt Marsh main road in Trelawny.

Two thoroughfares that benefited from combined efforts of the NWA and the Fire Brigade, were the West End road and Norman Manley Boulevard in Westmoreland.

"The West End road and Norman Boulevard were blocked solidly in many sections by fallen trees, debris and downed power lines, but crews from the Agency (NWA) and the fire service have cleared them," stated Mr. Shaw.

PRIORITY LIST

"Even though we have been giving priority attention to clearing 'A' grade roads, and the West End Road is a 'C' grade road, we placed it on our priority list, given its importance to the tourist industry."

And on the matter of other infrastructure, the National Water Commission's western regional office said yesterday it had restored water supplies to some sections of St. James, Trelawny and Hanover.

"The Great River System and the Martha Brae system were earlier today up and running, because we are now using generators to fuel those systems," reported Lisa Golding, community relations manager for the NWC's western division. "We are only about half of our capacity in delivering water since with the generator, we cannot supply water to all areas."

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