A motorist is ambushed by the unfriendly gang of potholes along Lavant Avenue in St. Andrew, which is in the vicinity of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) on East Avenue. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

What's not working?

East, West and Lavant avenues in the Kingston 8 area are in dire need of repairs. East Avenue, which houses the headquarters of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the other avenues especially Lavant, has been a perennial plague for residents and other motorists who are not able to avoid them.

Synopsis of the situation:

As if the poor road conditions are not enough of a burden, residents also grapple with the fear of being mugged, especially on the menacing Lavant Avenue, which has been reduced to a dangerous, pothole infested dustbowl. The residents lamented that thieves have been cashing in on the bad roads. The hoodlums, it was revealed, lurk, pounce and then rob motorists who are forced to slowly manoeuvre their way through the craters on Lavant Avenue.

"They actually rob people around there on Lavant, you know," said Donna Quallo-Ross, who lives on Lavant Avenue. "Yes, because the road is so bad that you have to slow right down to drive on it and that is when the robbers ambush you."

Mrs. Quallo-Ross added that the dust nuisance caused by the potholes is as annoying as acute, overactive sinusitis (pun intended). "The dust in the potholes out to kill mi, I am convinced. I have to keep the windows locked constantly. I mean seriously, if you come into some rooms (at my home) you would think I literally dumped dust and dirt in them on purpose. That's how bad it is," she said.

"And another thing, the water in the potholes terrible. It is the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes." This is a serious concern for her, especially because of the recent re-emergence of the deadly malaria disease.

For many motorists, driving on the pothole-filled surface of Lavant Avenue is not an option. In a bid to escape the plethora of potholes, the sidewalks, which were initially designed for pedestrians only, have become the escape route for these drivers.

In a bid to ease the strain on their vehicles and ultimately their pockets, the residents of the St. Andrew-based community have started their own patching programme. However their best efforts are not good enough to correct the years of neglect that have allowed the roads to run into ruin. Coping with the torment some three years now, Mr. Buchanan, an East Avenue resident since 1981, refuses to pay a dime more out of his pocket to fix roads that his tax dollars are already earmarked to maintain.

"Bwoy, mi tired a mix mortar (cement) yah now, a full time KSAC or whoever pick up them responsibility. All right, look inna the road behind yuh, is who yuh think fix da pothole deh, a we do it," Mr. Buchanan said.

Who's responsible?

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

What's the status?

Several attempts to contact Delroy Hall, superintendent of roads and works at the KSAC, were unsuccessful. However, one representative from the department told our news team that any plans to fix these roads would not materialise until after the Christmas season, though he was not sure if there were any such plans. He explained that the hands of the KSAC are a bit full at the moment.

Conclusion:

Again the lives of Jamaicans are being put at risk, all because the KSAC refuses to do its job.

And, since we know that the KSAC depends on central government for a lot of its funding, the Portia Simpson Miller-led administration is also to be blamed for the neglect. Since the KSAC has said it will not be able to address the matter until next year, we urge the police to increase their presence in that area. We also urge residents to be extremely cautious while driving along Lavant Avenue.

However, we agree with the residents in their call for immediate remedial work to be done. People's lives are at risk and that cannot be taken likely.

Done by Marlon Vickerman, Gleaner Writer.

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