Probing Portland: ‘Road Carver’ giving motorists a smooth ride

He is considered a saviour by several motorists in Portland who love and praise his efforts. He is 'Road Carver', who for 24 years, has spent his money to fix the bad roads in the parish.

"From 1994 mi a patch out the road dem. Me buy cement and look marl and gravel and dem ting deh," Herman 'Road Carver' Cousins, 46, told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"Mi go inna me pocket and tek out me own money. Me go round and patch the road, and more time, me get work out a it," said Road Carver.

He pointed out that he faced serious challenges, particularly from the police, in the early years, but these have diminished over time.

"More time, dem say me a block up the road and dem ting deh. You have good cop and bad cop, still. Some of dem pass and give dem contribution. Now a days, mi nah get no fight cause dem see the vision and understand weh me a do is a good thing," Road Carver said.

"Some people, more time dem see what me a do and donate a bag a cement. Mi have a bredrin name Mikey, more time him strengthen the ting too."

The spirited Road Carver told THE WEEKEND STAR that he does it for the love and not for the likes.

"Really and truly, when me start out, mi neva do it fi achieve anything. When me start out, mi neva did a pree money. We start round a Boston Corner. Round deh did stay bad, and we sort out the whole a round deh," said Road Carver as he argued that the roads in the western end of Portland are better that those in the east.

"Portland have good roads, enuh, but nuff bad roads deh ya too. The main road dem no really tan good. Up ina di east nuh good, but anywhere down ina the west good. A me a di one carve the east side. Mi response fi it."

This week, Road Carver was busy patching the main road in the vicinity of the Trident Castle.

While our news team was there, several motorists approached him and expressed their appreciation and support for his efforts.

He said he was recently awarded by citizens of Portland for his dedication to community development.

"The Boston Link Up Family gave me $15,000 last week. Whole heap a big up and respect. Mi give thanks for that, and more blessings to them," said Road Carver.