Watch Your Step! Tourists avoid sustaining ankle injuries by skilfully sidestepping the huge potholes in the Pier Road, which runs off Main Street in Ocho Rios. - NORMAN GRINDLEY /DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
WHAT'S NOT WORKING:
Huge potholes on the Pier Road in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. This is the first local road tourists use after leaving the Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier.
SYNOPSIS OF THE SITUATION:
This one is just ridiculous. Imagine yourself as a tourist visiting this island paradise in the sun, armed with your camera and pregnant with expectations of seeing breathtaking sites, only to step off the ship and before you complete the stretch of road that leads to Main Street, you wring your ankle in a pothole. Sounds far-fetched? That is the case in Ocho Rios as we speak.
A livid reader described the pothole-infested Pier Road as "the gateway to Ocho Rios for almost one million cruise-ship passengers per annum." The reader said that several "impassioned petitions" have been made to the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which supposedly has responsibility for the road. However, their cries have fallen on deaf ears.
A police officer, who was on foot patrol on the Pier Road in the vicinity of Island Village, said that an average of five tourists per day fall into the huge potholes. The officer explained that despite the potholes being so large, the fascinated tourists, who are more concerned with sightseeing, are oftentimes derailed by the craters. "It is a big embarrassment," the officer said.
Another eyesore and potential hazard is located at the corner of Milford Road and Main Street. Tourists were seen walking cautiously over marl that has been left on the sidewalk. Apparently work was done and the persons responsible have not removed the remainder of the marl, leaving it as an obstacle course for the locals and tourists. Plus, concerns were also raised about the homeless on the streets of Ocho Rios.
WHAT'S THE STATUS?
Nobody knows what will be done about the Pier Road. However, other roads in the tourist resort are getting some attention.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
No one has officially accepted responsibility for the pothole-riddled road. However, it is said that Pier Road is jointly owned by the UDC and the Port Authority.
A representative from the Port Authority told The Gleaner that everything behind the gate of the Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier belonged to the Authority. However, the representative could not confirm or deny whether Pier Road falls under their purview. At the same time, a representative from the UDC failed to provide a response, as promised, to queries regarding ownership of the road.
CONCLUSION
Shame. Shame. Shame on the organisation that has responsibility for the Pier Road in Ocho Rios. We can't be talking about the importance of tourism and a stretch of road in one of the main towns is in such poor state.
Having visitors to the island falling into huge potholes just because they are admiring the country's beauty is by no means putting our best foot forward. Action is needed promptly, or the country could be faced with lawsuits from visitors and locals who are injured because of the poor state of a public thoroughfare.
Also, something needs to be done for the homeless persons on the streets. Please, not anything like the street people scandal of a few years ago. In addition, having garbage on display is not by any stretch of the imagination a stellar attraction. Lastly, to the powers that be, clean up your town!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action.
Write to: Tyrone Reid, the Gleaner Company Ltd., 7 North Street, P.O. Box 40, Kingston;
Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or Email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com.
