Azan says gov't should give NWA maintenance grant to fix bad roads

By Prince Moore    

 

Opposition Spokesman on Roads and Works Richard Azan wants the government to provide a maintenance grant for the National Works Agency to urgently address the poor state of roads across Jamaica.

 

His comment follows numerous complaints from residents and motorists across the island about poor road conditions.

 

Mr. Azan said a number of bridges across the island are also in need of urgent attention. 

 

"I know in Nort West Clarendon, three bridge wash away from 2017, and none have been constructed back up to now. And you can go right across different communities. We're not cleaning the drains. Some places they are not building retaining wall. You have the potholes all over the place. But if we have a maintenance fund and you have the National Works Agency have a team going out there, our roads wouldn't be in this condition," he argued.

 

He noted that while there are highways, as soon as motorists exit them, they must again contend with roads in poor condition. 

 

Mr. Azan believes that roadwork conducted over the Christmas period did little to meaningfully address current road conditions. 

 

"...Despite all the big allocation that was given to Members of Parliament, our roads are not properly cleaned. So we have to find a way to get back to proper maintenance of our roads, unless we are going to find ourselves in serious problems," he asserted.