NW Clarendon pleads for repairs

George Henry, Gleaner Writer

FRANKFIELD, Clarendon:

MOTORISTS AND pedestrians who use the White Shop to Frankfield main road in North West Clarendon, have urged the relevant authorities to take immediate steps in having a break-away along a section of that thoroughfare, in the district of Sanguinetti, repaired.

Several motorists have told The Gleaner that the roadway has been eroding over a number of years, but worsened since heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole lashed the island in September.

A visit to the area on Saturday showed that not only has the roadway been badly eroded and is only allowing single lane traffic, but a culvert which takes water from the road into a gully has washed away. This has also resulted in another problem for at least one family who lives close to the break-away.

According to Winroy Ham, the situation has been a concern from as far back as 2004. He said he has pointed out the problem to political representatives for the area, but has not seen any move to have it rectified.

"I have brought it to their attention from that time until now; and see it has now resulted in the place break away worse, to the extent that the drain has been washed away and the water has started to cut away my land," said Ham.

He showed The Gleaner where the water has washed away about a square of his property, damaging crops such as banana, ackee and coconuts.

"The water does not have anywhere to go, because the drain is gone, the water come onto my land and wash it away. It is now coming towards my house, and if something is not done quickly, it is going to damage my house. I am calling on the authorities including Mr (Michael) Stern, member of parliament, and the NWA to do what is necessary to save my land," Ham said.

Motorists are also calling for the break-away to be corrected soon, as it has been posing a threat to hundreds of lives on a daily basis.

Efforts to get a comment from member of parliament for the area, Michael Stern, proved futile. When his office was contacted, his personal assistant reported that he was out of office, and she would have had him return the call. Up to press time, the call was not returned.