Fairy Hill wants water, dust issues resolved

Six weeks after residents of Fairy Hill in Portland blocked the main thoroughfare to protest about the absence of piped water, poor road conditions and dust nuisance brought about by road construction activities, the parliamentary representative says she is "beyond frustrated" that the matters are yet to be resolved.

Ann-Marie Vaz, member of parliament for Portland East, lashed out at the National Water Commission and the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the situation which resulted in a second protest yesterday.

"It is most disappointing that little attention has been given to this matter by the parties that can assist in a resolve," the MP said.

Residents in Fairy Hill said the continued absence of piped water and a wicked dust problem have been making their lives miserable. Their frustration exploded yesterday when they took to the street and mounted road blocks.

One resident, Shanice Lewis, complained bitterly about the absence of water in that community. She said that the area has been without piped water for more than two weeks now, and that no trucking of water has taken place in Fairy Hill.

"We have di kids dem fi go school and we have fi cook, we haffi wash. When we wash now di dust dutty up we clothes dem. It come in like nuh baddy here so nuh wear new clothes," she said.

In addition to the water woes, Lewis, like other residents said that CHEC, which is rehabilitating the main road under the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement project, has not been doing enough to control dust, brought about by its activities. She said that although a sprinkler is used to wet the road on weekdays, the surface easily becomes dry due to the drought conditions.

Vaz said that the problem is grave and requires urgent intervention.

"It is a crisis that the communities are facing due to an unprecedented and sustained drought. I am urging the National Water Commission, NWA and China Harbour Engineering Company and its sub-contractors to respond to our call," the MP said.