Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

Claiming Government has ignored their plight since the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and beyond, residents in western Portland staged a peaceful demonstration in Buff Bay, on Thursday in protest over the deplorable road condition in the adjoining communities.

The residents who converged near the entrance of the Wood Stock Housing Scheme displayed placards, some of which criticised the Government for ignoring their plight while others accused it of side-stepping real community issues and instead giving priority to Highway 2000.

One resident Omar Sweeney, of Fruitful Vale District, told The Gleaner that dozens of heavy duty equipment are stationed at a plant at Craig Mill in the Buff Bay Valley. He noted that although the heavy duty equipment is designated to carry out work on the North Coast Highway, it would be prudent of Government to address the deplorable state of the interior roads with the resources now at its disposal.

"We are suffering with each passing day," Mr. Sweeney said. "The highway is being treated as a priority while damages in the various communities are being ignored. The Government should address the plight of residents and treat community-related problem as first priority. As citizens of this country, we are being denied basic rights, privileges and benefits."

A visit to the plant at Craig Mill, revealed dozens of heavy duty equipment, including bulldozers, cranes, graders, rollers and stone crushing machines. The heavy duty equipment is to be used to complete the final leg of Highway 2000 from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio.