See to those struggling for basic commodities

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dear Editor,

It seems the residents of the Highgate to Richmond and Tremolesworth areas of St Mary have been abandoned by the appropriate authorities.

All roads leading into Highgate are in a deplorable and dangerous condition. Hundreds of deep potholes abound, making normal driving hazardous; drivers are dodging trenches, resulting in numerous crashes.

Highgate is a school hub with thousands of students being transported daily from all parts of St Mary, and even St Ann, St Catherine and St Andrew.

Clearly, this horrible road condition must be addressed urgently and a major road repair programme implemented very soon. The lives of the young people of Jamaica should not be put at risk because some people refuse to do their jobs. The residents of the affected areas are appealing to the prime minister to visit Highgate and drive through the village of Harmony Hall to see the disastrous road conditions. And why is the gas tax money not used to fix the roads of Jamaica? Certainly, the people of this country deserve an answer.

Another matter of grave concern is the poor water supply system in the Highgate area. Women can be seen every morning carrying four-gallon tubs of water for long distances in order to bathe their children for school and church. A serious health emergency can occur at any time because running water is not available for weeks in the Old Road and Dean Pen districts of St Mary.

To really mark our 50th anniversary programme with pride, let's turn our attention to the little people of Jamaica who struggle each day for basic commodities which should be a normal aspect of modern life. There are residents who have not received piped water for months, yet they are getting bills. The standard words are: "Not even air in the pipe and dem want money."

Winston Cohen

krunchienuts35@hotmail.com