LETTER OF THE DAY - To fix, or not to fix our roads?
Published:Tuesday | September 21, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
I refer to the front page story in The Gleaner of Saturday, September 18, in which Transport Minister Mike Henry accused the Opposition of trying to gain cheap mileage in this dispute regarding the roads slated for repairs.
I would like to advise Mr Henry that there are many ordinary citizens who are concerned about the way in which this programme is being undertaken. In an earlier edition of the paper, the finance minister was quoted as saying that the roads to be repaired were chosen because many areas had been neglected by the previous government. It was reported that eight out of the 10 roads to be repaired were in Manchester, Mr Shaw's constituency.
Another individual is reported to have said it was nobody's business which roads were chosen.
I was disturbed by this. If this is truly the case, I do believe that it was unfair in view of the conditions of our roads throughout Jamaica. Mr Shaw, Manchester is not Jamaica. I live in East Rural St Andrew. The road to Mavis Bank and the outlying districts is in a deplorable condition. Aside from those of us who reside in this part of the country, this road takes travellers - foreign and local visitors - to the foothills of the Blue Mountain Peak. Just a few days ago, a tourist returning to Kingston damaged his vehicle when one of the wheels fell into a giant-sized hole (no pothole, that)! Luckily for him, he was assisted by a good Samaritan. Had this occurred later in the evening, he could have fallen into the hands of unscrupulous persons.
Why not put in a hat, all the names of the major roads in urgent need of repairs and then have 10 locations pulled out by a person of integrity? Here, let me say I hope that the Portland road on which so many people lost their lives in the truck accident nearly two years ago, has either already been repaired or is scheduled to be.
I am not going to enter into a dispute about how roads were repaired up to 20 years ago. What I would like to say to those of you who formed the government in 2007 is this:
We voted for change. You promised that things would be different. Please take the high road. If that was the behaviour of the previous government, please show us that a change has indeed come. You are the Government for the people of Jamaica - you are not governing only those of us who sport green shirts and clamour louder.
I am, etc.,
P. L. JACOBS