Authorities ease congestion on Morant Bay’s roadways

The St Thomas Municipal Corporation has implemented several measures to ease the congestion of the streets of the parish capital, Morant Bay

Among the initiatives are the repainting of the yellow no-parking zone lines, increased provision of parking areas, the clamping of illegally parked vehicles, the strict enforcement of one-way streets and addressing illegal vending. Chief Engineering Officer at the municipal corporation, Odel Felix, who oversees roads and works in the parish, told JIS News that while most of the rules are not new, there is heightened enforcement to ensure public order and safety.

"Numerous times we have got complaints from even the fire department that whenever there's an [emergency] in the town, they cannot get access because of traffic and congestion," he said. Felix said that the municipal corporation has provided paid parking for motorists at the old courthouse by Paul Bogle Square. Parking is also available at the lot next to the Anglican Church Hall on North Street, and another on Georges Street.

"The town of Morant Bay is very small and, therefore, a person can park and go and do their business," Felix said. He added that the enforcement of no-parking zones is also helping to deal with certain "sore points" within the town that are normally heavily congested.

Taxi operators heading east are also required to park in the designated area on South Street. There are also signs to indicate that the street is one-way, with motorists only allowed to take a right after passing the fire station on Debtors Lane. In addition, municipal police officers have been patrolling the streets daily to ensure that order is being maintained.

Felix said that residents will need to adjust to the measures, noting that a culture of order is being created.

"If you go to any other parish and park illegally, your vehicle will get towed away. Once you park illegally, you will be clamped. Most people are now becoming aware of the clamping, so sometimes when a person goes to an area and they want to park, somebody will inform them not to park there because they will be clamped," he said.

Once a vehicle is clamped, the motorist is required to pay $2,500 at the municipal corporation on Church Street to have it removed. Felix said that in the early months of the clamping penalty, between 20 and 30 vehicles were being clamped per day, but this is now down to fewer than five per day.

"The aim is not collection; the aim is to ensure that the streets are cleared just in case of an emergency, so that the emergency vehicles can carry out their operation without any obstruction," Felix said.

"The feedback that we receive from the public is that they are happy with it, especially pedestrians and people going about their lawful business; even the vendors that we removed from the sidewalk. Most people are in agreement with that," he added.

Several residents who use the town regularly welcomed the measures. Prospect resident, Deidre Hinds, said she is a firm believer in order.

"So if there is a place for the vehicles to be parked, I do believe that that is the place that they should go," she explained. "Now I don't have to worry that I will step on anybody's goods, so I feel glad to walk in peace on the roads."

However, she expressed concerns about the designated taxi stand for operators transporting persons to Lyssons, Prospect and Port Morant, opining that the location is "a bit too far" and there is need for adequate shelter.