Choose your pothole

Long before the rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole inundated our little island and further destroyed our roads, many main and residential roadways were in deplorable conditions. Even the most robust vehicles suffered tyre, wheel and front-end damage from the interminable shakes, jolts and slams from potholes everywhere.

Our roads serve the dual purpose of supporting vehicular traffic and draining off storm water. And, our arterial roadways inevitably become wavy and crater-like because the highly publicised launch and enforcement of heavy-duty vehicle weight limits seems to have waned (just like all other past campaigns).

Naturally, priority has been placed on repairing our main roads, but our residential roads incessantly torture us and our vehicles. So bad are many of these minor roads that despairing citizens have approached the authorities - the National Works Agency and/or the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation - in the hope that their respective roads will be repaired soon.

Homeowners are being told that residential roads are so far down on the list of those slated for repairs that it may take years before anything is done about them. However, the authorities have offered a glimmer of hope ... for a price.

Unused taxes?

Residents have been given the opportunity to contribute to the repairing of their specific roads. This, even though these roads are not private and they already pay (property and fuel) taxes that should go towards road repairs.

Fuel attracts a special consumption tax and a recent ad valorem tax. The increased petrol tax was expected to generate $13.3 billion towards closing the $18 billion gap in the national Budget. The grand plan was for the monies generated to mostly go into the Consolidated Fund (as usual) and a portion into the Road Maintenance Fund (RMF). In the first year, the RMF was to receive 20 per cent, with the following years receiving 30 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively.

We were told that 'glitches' at the state-owned oil refinery Petrojam, delayed the obtaining of revenue raised through the increased fuel taxes. Then we were told that $1.6 billion was diverted from reaching the RMF because it went to settle outstanding arrears and to do road work. We were also told that, "... the finance ministry did not create a mechanism to facilitate the flow of funds from the Inland Revenue Department to the RMF". Consequently, the Government has no money to properly repair our roads and householders/taxpayers are encouraged to 'contribute' between $5,000 and $10,000 per household towards repairing their roads or wait 'forever'.

Long wait

So, until we can help finance our own road repairs, it's ... .

Eeny meeny miney mo

In which pothole should I go?

Left or right, it's all the same

And straight ahead will wreck my frame

Double tax on gas we pay,

Where it's all gone, they won't say

Front end parts cost arm and leg

Soon we'll all just have to beg

Long and convoluted lines

Slow for holes as deep as mines

Endless time in traffic spent

Better that than all wheels bent

Now we wait for China's money

Attracting road-builders like bees to honey

Seems all is fair in love and war

And giving out work to lay the tar

Until then, we chug along

The not-too-merry, downtrodden throng

Repairs and taxes we must pay

Plus insurance and fitness or they'll tow us away

And now my little verse is done

Jamaica once was so much fun

Was a time when leaders worked for us

Now we dare not grumble, lest they cuss ... .

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.