Quickstep residents long for road to development

Nestled in the hills of the Cockpit Country is a settlement known to most in St Elizabeth as Ouickstep. Residents have long wanted development in the remote area, but believe they have been overlooked by the government due to their location.

A 68-year old resident, Cornelius Thompson, who has been living in Quickstep all his life, told THE STAR that members of the community are willing to work for upliftment.

"We is a set of people that don't really wait on government to do things for us because if certain things come up, like the road to fix, and we can't get any help, we buy our own material and do it by we self. But we need the help now... quick and fast, because the place need development," he said. "If we could change things we do it ourselves, but we don't have the resources. But we will work with anybody who want to invest up here."

Farming

Livestock rearing and farming represent the major source of economic activity for the residents of this community, which is stationed close to the border of St Elizabeth and Trelwany. The people believe that if the Government were to open up an existing track, which they use to get into Trelawny, it would open up the world of possibilities for them.

"So when that happen, people can put up a stall and sell a two jelly and ting, and business will start open because we have who to sell to," Winford Barnaby told THE STAR. "We need some opportunity so that people cam access the community and we get more business for our produce, too."

Ronald Tomlison, 60, said that Quickstep got its name after early maroons, who were settling in the area, were forced to move fast (step quick), when the Europeans attacked them.

"A just that me born come hear and we just work with it, but me think we in the community move fast towards getting things done. A must because it name Quickstep," he laughed uncontrollably. "Me is a postman and I deliver mail from in Aberdeen to Quickstep, which is five miles away, and I walk the distance in one hour."

"I love it here, it is a nice peaceful area, but it a go right down little by little and we don't want to lose our community. We need someone to pump some money to create jobs so that the young people can stay," he added.

Wilmark Green, 56, said the population is getting smaller.

"And as the little pickney them come up in a age, them gone, because nothing nah gwan yah so," he said. "We try as a community to see how best we can try to help each other to make a living, but it hard, so the population is dying out. We willing to work to make the place develop; anything the Government say we alright with it, because a better we a look for the community."