Sterling Castle cries out for roads, street lights - Residents say poor infrastructure makes them vulnerable to crime

Residents of Sterling Castle and surrounding communities have said that a lack of proper roads and street lights is giving rise to violence in their area.

The hilly west rural St Andrew region has been the subject of unwanted national attention since the disappearance and subsequent murder of Shante Skyers two weeks ago.

Speaking at a community meeting last Thursday, one resident said that proper infrastructure is needed to safeguard children and adults as they go about their lives daily.

“I am a returning resident, and the road is really bad. If you travel from Sterling Castle and go all the way around, you will see what I am talking about. The roads need to be fixed, and we need light,” the resident said.

Elecia Bethune, who is a resident of Sterling Castle, said that because of the poor road conditions, taxis are refusing to venture past a certain distance in their community.

“It costs $600 for a child to move from Red Hills to Sterling Castle per day. It doesn’t matter which area of society you are in, that is expensive,” she said.

Bethune said that there is also a major issue with street lights in the community.

“There is only one light that is working, and it has its own personality. Sometimes you drive past it and it flickers on, and then another time, it is off,” she said.

Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, member of parliament for West Rural St Andrew, said that lack of proper infrastructure is a cause for concern but that the residents can handle some matters on their own.

“A lot of these roadways have not been serviced for a number of years, and I have been making some headway in most of the areas. I have fixed some areas from Sterling Castle Square to Twelve Miles,” she said.

The MP said that residents can play a part by calling the JPS and reporting the malfunctioning street lights to them.