Motorists urged to use new roads carefully

Concerned about the number of road fatalities in St Thomas since the start of the year, divisional commander for the parish, Deputy Superintendent of Police Michael Campbell, is calling on motorists to use the newly constructed roads with care.

Speaking recently at the monthly sitting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, Campbell said that, since the start of the year, there have been four road fatalities. At the end of 2024, 15 lives were lost as a result of motor-vehicle accidents.

"I am appealing to my motoring public to use the St Thomas road with care and courtesy for other road users, because careless drivers are endangering other people's lives," Campbell said.

"I've seen it almost every single day when I am out on the street," he added, while pointing out that the police are aware of some taxi operators boasting of the speed at which they can reach Kingston and return, given the major improvements in the road network. Campbell said these operators must remember that the road network is still being rehabilitated.

"There are sections that are dug up from time to time and, as such, you will run into a place that you may have passed this morning and there was no hole. You're going back later and there is something there that will cause accidents," the commander cautioned.

Under the multibillion-dollar Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Programme, the main road in St Thomas is being given a major facelift. Most prominent is the Paul Bogle Highway that has, in some parts, been created into four lanes with traffic lights and other features - a first for the parish.