Left: Pothole party: This is the condition of the roads from the Catherine Drive area of Queen Hill. The potholes have linked and span across the length and breath of the road, making it virtually impassible.   Right: Pembroke Terrace is arguably the worst road in Queen Hill. Crater-sized potholes have fostered the growth of plants in the roadway and a significant accumulation of debris. Residents from this area are forced to use alternative routes. - Photos by Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

WHAT'S NOT WORKING?

Although the name may suggest dignified royalty, quite paradoxically, there is nothing majestic about the roads in Queen Hill. Appalling, coupled with atrocious, are feeble adjectives to be used in characterising the state of these streets.

Ghastly, crater-sized potholes form continuous and torturous networks in some areas while, in others, they function as blooming plant habitats.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SITUATION

Manoeuvring your car through the Queen Hill area without hitting a pothole, having to reduce your speed to below 10mph or getting frustrated are knight-worthy accomplishments. However, for the residents, this mission is oftentimes 'impassible'.

Queen Hill residents are bemoaning the negligence on behalf of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) as it relates to the repairing of the community's roads that had been ravaged by Hurricane Ivan and company.

Claudette Reid, resident of Catherine Drive in Queen Hill, argued that since the damage was done, the residents have had to attempt to fix the roads themselves.

"Enough is enough. Since Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the KSAC has done nothing to rectify the road conditions, we the residents have took it upon ourselves to try and address the issue," she said.

Overlooked community

'Mr. Nicholson', another resident, lamented that due to the road terror, even taxi operators refuse to offer their services within the area, fearing costly damage to their vehicles.

One resident said he feels as if the community is being overlooked.

"Maybe it's because we don't have anyone up here to demonstrate or block the roads and get some media attention why nothing has been done as yet," he said. "They are busy grandstanding about other issues, yet this dire condition is worsening unnoticed."

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC)

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Efforts to get an update from the KSAC proved futile. Firstly, Mayor Desmond Mckenzie was unavailable for comment. Then, his personal assistant, Camille Prince, was not in office. After that, the acting city engineer said he had no knowledge of the state of the roads in Queen Hill. Finally, attempts to contact the Road and Works Department at the council were also unsuccessful.

However, in a document dated October 21, 2005 and signed by the mayor's personal assistant, Ms. Prince, it was said that the KSAC had no money to fix the roads.

This was in response to the concerns of the Queen Hill Citizens' Association which were sent to the Mayor's Office in writing.

The document read. "Regrettably, due to current financial constraints, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation is not able to undertake any such road repair at this time."

It was also stated that a response to the issue would be based on the 'availability of funds'.

CONCLUSION

Well, almost a year has elapsed since the KSAC told the Queen Hill residents in writing they are waiting on funds.

But, even then, residents said they have been trying to address the issue independently with their own funds. Why not try to partner with the residents to strengthen their efforts in whatever way you can? Since the residents will stand the cost for some amount of supplies, why not stand the cost of providing some assistance, through expertise, in doing the little that can be done to try and better the condition while you watch and wait for the funds to emerge?

After all, this may not fully resolve the crisis but at least it would tell them that you are mindful of them.

- This instalment of Tyrone's Watch was done by Marlon Vickerman, Gleaner Writer

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 Limited, 7 North Street, P.O. Box 40, Kingston. fax: 922-6223, telephone: 922-3400 ext. 6364 or email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com.