Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Portland:

Residents of Silver Hill, Portland, are angry with the National Works Agency (NWA) and Member of Parliament Errol Ennis for stopping repairs being carried out on the rails of the Silver river bridge.

The residents, who converged in the vicinity of the bridge in large numbers, on Friday claimed they were welding metallic rails to the bridge on Wednesday, to prevent the likelihood of anyone falling to their death, when the MP and a team from the NWA intervened.

"They ordered us to stop working," said Dian Ellis, a resident. "We were only repairing the rails which rotted more than 20 years ago. The work was being done by us as residents, who saw it necessary to prevent danger from happening."

The residents alleged that the NWA was playing politics with their safety.

Students in danger

"There have been many reports of students narrowly escaping (from) falling off the bridge," said Winifred Johnson, principal of the nearby Avocat Primary and Junior High School. "We are fearful that could very well happen. I was happy to see the repairs starting, but now I am a bit disappointed, as the lives of many are at stake."

But head of communications at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, said no authorisation was given to the residents to carry out the repair work. He said while the NWA was not against persons helping themselves, there is a process which has to be followed.

"Proper procedure was not followed, and subsequent to that we had dialogue with the workman outlining the basic guidelines and requirements," added Mr. Shaw.

In the meantime, the residents remain adamant that the MP and the NWA must respond to their plight and prevent the lurking danger.