Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Port Antonio, Portland:

Residents at Stony Hill, in Portland, are finding it difficult to cope with the deplorable road conditions and the unavailability of piped water in their community, which has been a concern for more than 15 years.

The residents, who are fed up, complained that their children are forced to adopt the tradition - handed down to them by their ancestors - of carrying water for several miles on their heads for their domestic use in a civilised Jamaican society.

"It pains my heart to see our children facing such challenges," said 77-year-old Marjorie Cummins, a resident. "I am too old to carry water, but my grandchildren are the ones who now have to do the carrying. I only pray that before I close my eyes, we will have access to pipe water in our home."

'Mama Cummins', as she is affectionately called, recalled that, from as early as the 1960s promises have been made by both sides of the political divide that piped water would be made available to every house holder in Stony Hill. However, up to now, the promises have not been kept.

"Dem even have the nerves to come back and try to fool this poor old woman," she said. "It is really hard as everybody at lower and upper Stony Hill is affected. And the state of the roadway has made the situation worse."

The Stony Hill community,according to a recent poll, has an estimated voting population of 1,355 persons, with an additional 500 or so persons who are not eligible to vote in the upcoming general election.

Some residents are forced to walk more than three miles to get water along the deplorable roadway, as taxi operators have withdrawn their services to the area. As a result many have developed ailments in their legs, forcing them to seek medical attention, which further compounds their frustrations.