Left: This motorist makes his way along Strathmore Avenue in Strathmore Gardens. This is one of the better roads in a community plagued with damaged roads.   Right: River or road? A section of Bogle Avenue in the community is covered by water. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

WHAT'S NOT WORKING?

Think about bad, very bad roads. Add to that the aches and pains of walking home because taxi operators absolutely refuse to drive on the bad roads. Now multiply that by being robbed while walking home and then you might be able to understand the problem facing the residents of Strathmore Gardens in St. Catherine.

SYNOPSIS OF SITUATION:

The residents of Strathmore Gardens complain that travelling to and from their homes is a painstaking affair. And judging by the state of the 'roads' (for want of a better word), they must be suffering excruciating pangs.

The poor road conditions have driven taxi operators to the point of refusing good money. One taxi operator told Tyrone's Watch that he would not drive on some of the roads for love nor money, literally.

"We nah go pon dem road still, it cost too much damage. I have good friends on Strathmore Drive and, believe me, not even them mi going down there for, not even if dem a pay extra," said taxi operator Richard Palmer.

He added: "Is 15 years mi a run taxi roun' here and is so the road stay all along. It never as bad as it is now but over time, it jus deteriorate and result in what you're looking at."

Christine Powell, who has lived in the community for eight years, said the conditions are so bad that even her company's staff bus refuses to take her directly home. "You can hardly find a taxi man that faithful enough to take us home, all of dem stop at the entrance and seh we affi walk the rest a the journey because it too damaging to the car dem," said an irate Powell. "Even the (company) van no waan come dung here when dem a drop wi off from work."

High fares for bad roads

Powell argued that drivers who take the risk often vary the price of the fare to match the severity of the road deterioration. For sections most concentrated with ditches and potholes, fares may rocket from $80 to $150, she said.

Some residents pointed out that walking home at nights is not safe, as they are often the victims of robberies. Powell herself said that she had been a victim.

Another resident, Raymond Edwards, who has lived in the area since 2003, also vented his frustration. "It was yesterday a likkle shower drop and look at the pothole dem. Those are not even potholes, they are 'ponds'. Look how the road mucky and full a water. You don't want to be here when some real rain fall; a dem time deh u see the judgement," said Raymond. "Not even waterboot can save you, the water make its way past all yuh knee sometime," he said.

Mr. Edwards also said the residents are sometimes marooned. Those who are out cannot get home while those who are inside are trapped and cannot get out.

Making a similar point, Terron Taylor, a resident of 10 years, said according to his judgement, the water is deep enough, on some occasions, to navigate a small engine boat on.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

The St. Catherine Parish Council.

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Several attempts, on Wednesday and Friday, to contact Alston Esmie, superintendent of road and works, at the parish council, were unsuccessful. Several messages were also left regarding the nature of the call to which Tyrone's Watch received no response.

CONCLUSION:

People are being robbed because they are forced to walk home on bad roads that taxi operators refuse to travel. Word to the St. Catherine Parish Council: do not wait until somebody's life is snuffed out before the roads are repaired. It is a shame and disgrace of no mean order to have roads in this advanced state of disrepair. Come on! Do your jobs and fix the roads immediately. If not, resign and let somebody else do it for you.

The residents said that, except for the one occasion where the 'band-aid', quick fix and 'waste of effort'-approach of throwing marl in the potholes was done, the situation remains the same, and is worsening rapidly.

The least the local authority could do is have the common decency to comment on the matter. Irrespective of your schedule, try to show the residents that you are aware of their concerns or that you even care to find out what they are. As a matter of fact, as long as staff at the St. Catherine Parish Council is being paid by the blood, sweat and tears of the taxpayers of this blessed isle, it is their duty to have the roads fixed. Do your job!

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, Kingston; Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or Email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com.

- Done by M.V.

The roads in the community of Strathmore Gardens, St. Catherine, affect animals too, it seems. This dog is apparently plotting its next move in a desperate bid to manoeuvre through the pond-sized potholes along Lewars Avenue in the community.