Paul Mountain demands proper roads

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

PAUL MOUNTAIN, St Catherine:

LOBBYING FOR a proper road is nothing new for residents of Paul Mountain in West Central St Catherine.  In fact, over the last 10 years, this has become a pastime for disgruntled citizens of the rustic community located near Kitson Town.

Under the leadership of St Aubyn Thomas, the citizens' association president, they have continuously sought the assistance of state agencies and government officials in the past and present administrations to rehabilitate the road.

"We wrote letters to Dr (Ken) Baugh, Mr Austin Morgan, (late and former councillor), the National Works Agency, the SDC (Social Development Commission), House of Parliament, Mr (Edward) Seaga and even Mrs Portia Simpson Miller," listed Thomas.

He added: "Some years ago, the entire road was supposed to fix, but some sabotage took place and they only threw a little marl here and a little marl there," Thomas told The Gleaner.

Relentless in their bid to get assistance, they penned a letter dated July 5, 2012 to Minister of Work Dr Omar Davies.

In his response, Davies indicated that money was available only for patching. But the citizens have unanimously rejected the offer.

"We don't want no patching, we need the entire road to fix. We waiting on it long time, so if it a come through now, we don't want no patching," Panchita Thompson said.

Besides, Thomas said the deplorable state of the road warrants total rehabilitation.

"We want the road to fix properly from Gravel Hill go straight back down to Meadowrest area. We want new roads with culverts and all those things, so that water can run off the road and it doesn't mash up too fast," said Thomas.

The residents say they have been inconvenienced by the inconsistent taxi service and the extra fare they are required to pay to travel to and from Spanish Town.

"If we did have good road, we wouldn't have to pay so much fare to Spanish Town because the taxi dem drive all the way round Kitson Town and we have to pay $200 to Spanish Town now, and we not working," Alberta Findley explained.

Everyone affected

In fact, citizens in all age groups have been severely affected.

"I used to play basketball but because of the journey, I stopped. Training starts at 5 and over 7 o'clock and to travel from Old Harbour to Spanish Town and then from Spanish Town to here, it was too much. I had to take one taxi to Kitson Town and walked from Kitson Town come to Paul Mountain," explained Hubert McDonald, a sixth-former at Old Harbour High School.

Furthermore, the peeved residents also highlighted the inevitable danger posed by the inadequate street lights in the community, particularly in an adjoining district.

"Page Level is a red-tape area, the road bad and the area dangerous, no light, people rob people all the while when dem coming through because the road bad, so dem can't drive fast and there is no light," said Orlando Plummer

At the same time, Patricia Barnett, postmistress at the Paul Mountain Postal Agency, said she was saddened by the lack of development in the farming community, which boasts one primary school.

No development

"Why Paul Mountain is so down is because most of the older people cannot read properly and the children come from a poor background, they don't get any skill and so there is no development," explained Barnett.

However, Findley, a vendor, said all was not lost as the young people could bridge the gap.

"The young people sitting playing dominoes, they have no work to do. There is an open church here, if someone or any agency could come in and repair it and make even a little factory or set up some skills training so that some of the young people could learn something even sewing, barbering that would be a start," suggested Findley.

rural@gleanerjm.com

PHOTOS BY KAREN SUDU