Bad roads cause bumpy ride in Burnside Valley

Residents of Burnside Valley, Red Hills in St Andrew, have expressed great disappointment with the manner in which they are being treated.

"We feel like the forgotten community," they bellowed to THE STAR, noting that whatever help they often seek from government has never been granted.

A few disgruntled residents said the most burning issue is to have their community road repaired. They have been lobbying for years but those cries seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

"A years now the road stay the same way, people come and go and nothing not happening. Them a guh tell we say how the road not on the map but a human being live round here and something has to be done because we go about our daily lives like anybody else," Moureen Smith told the news team. "This road is like this for over 30 years. Is we the people them buy little marl and cement and try to patch it out when we can."

Smith said the road which links Burnside Valley to Swain Spring is often used by motorists who detour from the main thoroughfare. But it's a bumpy ride.

"The big potholes them in the road a mash up people vehicle. Even other day a piece a iron under wah man bus bruck and right now him have it in a garage. How can that be fair to us as people? Smith questioned.

"Suppose you ever see how round yah suh look when rain fall. It hard fi even come out a the house because we can't walk. We have to put on bag on our foot because the place is pure mud," Smith explained. "That nuh nice nobody want to live like this in a modern time now. What make it even worse is that them a fix everybody road around the place and not looking at this one. We feel a way 'bout it man. Some things have to change."

Tyrone Davis, who owns a block factory, said that the bad roads have been hindering his business.

"A me drop some marl and pay a tractor guy to come and level it off and use some cement on it. It still need some more work to be done on it because it really bad. Me just try to fix close to my business place and make it convenient but to fix the whole thing me nuh have it," said Davis. "People complain about the road so them don't really come to support the business. Is just a few loyal customers that will still show up no matter how bad it is."

He added "If them at least trying to fix the road things will change because me know say more people will come to support the business. The community will feel more loved as well."

Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn , member of Parliament for West Rural St Andrew in which Burnside Valley is located, said she is advising concerned residents to reach out to her.

"Some parts of Burnside Valley were being patched the other day and if persons in the community have problems they should call a community meeting with the member of parliament," she said.