Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
Left: Residents of Cascade in Portland protesting outside the gates of the National Works Agency on Maxfield Avenue, St. Andrew yesterday, over what they describe as neglect of their community, cut off for over a year, due to landslides. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Right: A woman who had fallen ill recently had to be transported by wheelbarrow across a breakaway in a part of the Section main road to get to Kingston. The breakaway has cut off the community from Kingston and St. Andrew. There have been incidents of people falling ill and having to be carried out of the community (nearly two miles) on make-shift stretchers and wheelbarrows. - CONTRIBUTED
"Wi waan road, wi waan road and wi nuh want no boderation ooh," chanted residents of Cascade district in Portland, who journeyed all the way to the Maxfield Avenue office of the National Works Agency in
St. Andrew yesterday to air their demands.
THE PLACARD-BEARING residents said that since 2004, they have been without proper roads and, as a result, have been cut off from sections of their community. According to the residents, a bypass was provided by the Government to gain access to the community at the lower breakaway, which leads to a section of Cascade called Regale.
The problem, they said, with this arrangement, however, is that it goes through three persons' property, one of whom is upset because he has not received payment from the Government for the use of the land. Consequently, he has erected two concrete walls and placed a chain across his property, blocking the road sometimes.
In order to facilitate movement, the residents said they have fashioned a road on the hillside using bamboo so as to allow children to get to the school.
"We have 50 per cent of our teachers living out of the area and they travel via a bus, which stops in the middle of the road and teachers have to walk the rest of the way," related one angry resident.
AT THEIR WITS' END
They said coffee farmers in the community have been suffering due to the current road situation, as they are unable to plant coffee or transport fertiliser to the area.
Reacting to the demonstration, councillor for the area, Doreen Forbes said, "I think it is unfortunate that the residents of Cascade actually had to journey into Kingston to let their plight be heard. I am really never for a demonstration, but I think they are at their wits end, and they really need some assistance."
The crowd of about 70 persons, including 20 children of the Cascade Primary and Junior High school, refused to speak to the communications manager at the National Works Agency and instead demanded a meeting with Works Minister, Robert Pickersgill.
Speaking with representatives of the residents, Mr. Pickersgill stated that hurricanes Emily, Dennis and Wilma last year, along with heavy rainfall in the area, contributed to the long period it has taken to fix the road.
He noted that initially a $15 million contract had been awarded to Surrey Paving Limited to fix the first breakaway, but with a total of 15 breakaways now present in the Buff Bay Valley, designs had to be drawn, and this has added to the lengthy delay.
"There is a $120 million contract; the design is finished and the whole idea was to start (next) Monday," Pickersgill said.
