Clarendon taxi operators protest poor road conditions

 

By Kimone Witter  

 

 

Taxi operators who use the main road between Denbigh and Four Paths in Clarendon are appealing for it to be rehabilitated.

 

Some of the taxi operators staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday to complain about the poor state of the road.

 

They complained that whenever it rains, the main road becomes even more challenging to manoeuvre, as marl and dirt solutions used to fill potholes are washed out.

 

Taxi operator Duffus said motorists also become stuck in mud. 

 

"The condition a di road terrible man, very terrible. Because just yesterday, around seven car stuck inna it. You understand? It waan proper road, because it nuh make nuh sense you a charge wi fi fit this, and seh your car nuh fit fi di road. But a di road nuh fit fi your car," he lamented. 

 

"If you notice from Four Paths coming up, you hardly can pass down a Electoral Office. Some big ol' hole in deh, you can bury dog inna dem... Everything dem throw, as rain fall it wash out, so people choose less to use this side a road fi save the front end parts," another operator, Ramone Henry, pointed out.

 

He said the protest was a last-ditch effort to draw attention to the condition of the road, in hopes for fix. 

 

The taxi operators told Radio Jamaica News that Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Western, Lothan Cousins, has for several years provided materials that only serve to temporarily alleviate the challenges.

 

Mr. Cousins said the local office of the National Works Agency has been unable to give a timeline for when the road will be repaired under one of the national programmes. 

 

"I'm urging the NWA to come out and make a statement to appease these residents. When we asked the questions in Parliament, we were told that the responsibility for road repairs was the NWA's responsibility and not the role of the MPs. Unfortunately MPs get the blame for issues that are outside of their control. And so, if MPs are to be blamed for road repairs, then give the MPs the power to repair the roads," Mr. Cousins demanded.