What will it take for St Thomas roads to be fixed?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

This is an open letter to the prime minister, Member of Parliament for St Thomas Western James Robertson, and the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the principal contractors on the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project. I would like to highlight the plight of the residents and travelling public who use Pamphret, Yallahs, White Horses, Mount George and other roads, which have got extremely deplorable.

It has become a major challenge for anyone traversing through St Thomas, because the roads were dug up and not fixed afterwards. There is no duty of care, concern, or responsibility being shown to those who travel on the roads, and the people are fed up, tired and exhausted.

On November 1 my car was damaged because there were no proper signs; and my car almost dropped in a ditch. Who will compensate me and others whose vehicles are damaged on the roads due to the uncaring manner in which the roads are being left by the contractors?

It is gross negligence on the part of the contractors, who are vicariously liable for leaving the roads in such conditions.

The people of St Thomas, including myself, have long advocated for better roads and now that there is a road project, we feel like we are being intentionally oppressed. We are sure that the roads can be done in a better way that gives the travelling public a measure of satisfaction. It is unbearable, and I have no adjectives to describe some of the conditions of the road. The dust, potholes, waterways, waterholes, craters and mess in which the roads are, is overbearing and overwhelming.

On behalf of the residents of St Thomas Western, the entire St Thomas and travelling public, we ask that a concerted effort be made to fix the roads. The recent rains from the impending tropical storm of November 1 has made the roads worse.

Will it take the residents to protest and and block the roads for things to happen? I am urging you, please hear the cries of the people and show that we are respected.

OMAR RYAN

Concerned Resident of

St Thomas