Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterPORT ANTONIO, Portland:
UNLESS THE authorities respond immediately by fixing the virtually cut off Bangor Ridge main road, in Portland, residents in adjoining communities could be marooned and their livelihoods severely disrupted.
Since the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, which left a trail of devastation in the Buff Bay Valley, the communities of Cascade, Mahoe, Claverty Cottage, Silver Hill and Bangor Ridge, have been plagued by multiple land slippages which have left many of the interior roads blocked, cut off and in some instances impassable.
As a result of the frequent land slippages, the National Works Agency (NWA) has closed the main road leading from Bangor Ridge to other communities, deeming it unsafe to vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
While the closure of that road is necessary, to prevent any unfortunate incidents, residents are angry that the move could have been avoided.
AUTHORITIES SLOW TO ACT
"This breakaway of the road started after Hurricane Ivan," said Medon Reid, a farmer at Bangor Ridge. "The authorities have ignored the fixing of the roadway and as a result it has got worse over the last 18 months, and we as farmers are unable to transport our produce to market, as motorists have withdrawn their services to the respective communities."
Daryl Vaz, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for the West Portland constituency, who toured the area on Wednesday, argued that the NWA and the Government are guilty of ignoring the plight of residents in the rural parishes.
He said the Government needed to respond immediately to the deplorable and life-threatening situation now facing the residents.
"The livelihood of residents and the future of hundreds of students are now threatened," said Mr. Vaz. "The Cascade All-Age and the Fairfield schools are facing closure as teachers and students are unable to reach school, due to deplorable roads."
