Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer

A resident of Belle Isle in Westmoreland at the scene of a demonstration on Monday against the poor state of the roadway in the community. With him are students of the Grange Hill High School. - photo by Dalton Laing

GRANGE HILL, Westmoreland:

Residents of Belle Isle Road in Grange Hill and almost half of the 1,900 students who attend the Grange Hill High School on Monday protested against the poor road condition from Sterling to the community centre.

Alton Ruddock, principal of Grange Hill High, says he believes that the protest is a signal to the area's political representatives.

He explained that the school had done some repairs to the road last year but this time around, the problem is beyond the institution's reach. "Last year, we did some work on the road to make it (safe to drive on) but this year the problem is too big. We can't manage it," said Ruddock.

Nothing done

"We have written to the councillor (Lawton McKenzie), the member of Parliament (Wykeham McNeil) and the mayor (Bertel Moore), but nothing has been done. The children are at risk because the vehicles, which do come down here, have to skip potholes, so I'm concerned about the safety of the students."

He added: "I think that the community is using this demonstration to tell the powers that be that enough is enough."

Classes were disrupted at Grange Hill High as a result of the protest for the day.

Can't blame them

"We can't blame them for blocking the road because it bad," said David Johnson, who has been living in Belle Isle for the past 28 years. "The children have to go to school and the cars can't come down. It's just that they can't get to come to school."

The police maintained a strong presence at the scene of the protest and had to clear trees and other debris which were used to block the roadway. One policeman said that he was disappointed with the school's officials for allowing students to participate in the protest action.

But Principal Ruddock was quick to point out that the students participated in the protest on their way to school and not after going to classes.