SPANISH Town, the old capital, has not only fallen off the radar, but is in a state of disrepair.

The roads leading to and from this once major city are in such deplorable condition, children remove their shoes before venturing onto them.

The roads — mainly potholes with bit of asphalt between — need to be fixed.

The commercial point, the town itself, is in need of serious attention from whoever is in charge.

Sewage and garbage line the city’s pothole filled streets, and an air of hopelessness fills the air.

A city that could thrive, given the help and attention it needs, Spanish Town should not be forgotten.

“When rain fall me can’t walk yah so, dis serious now man… wah me vote for?” an angry resident complained.

Burke Road, the major point leading in and out of the commercial district, has degraded to the point that it could be identified as a dirt road.

The buildings, mainly of Victorian architecture, others originally built by the Spaniards, are sight to behold, making Spanish Town one of this island’s most cherished historical sites.

Why then has it been allowed to get to its current state?

Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, the Member of Parliament for Central St Catherine where Spanish Town falls,  said she is in the process of fixing three roads in the Gordon Pen community with funds she has sourced independently.

“I am working on Golf Heights, Welsh Heights and Marl Road. No work has started on Kennedy Lane as yet but I plan to do that road as well,” she said.

Grange said there is virtually no road network, taxis refuse to take residents into these communities, and there is extreme difficulty when it rains.

She said she is still seeking assistance to carry out repair work to Cumberland Avenue, Tawes Pen and other surrounding roads.

“Whenever the JEEP rolls out in actuality, whatever is made available to me will be used on infrastructure,” she said.

JEEP is the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme rolled out by the current government, which will include road works.

Grange said prior to the elections she was in discussions with the Ministry of Transport and Works and the St Catherine parish office to have funds allocated for road repairs.

“I had in fact made representation and got agreement for $20 million to assist with the roads in each division — Spanish Town, Hampton Green and Ensom City. Since JEEP, I will only be getting $10 million, that’s what has been promised,” she added.

She said she believes if she is getting $10 million from JEEP, she should get the balance from the Ministry of  Works because they are two separate entities and one should not affect the other.

Grange agrees that the roads are in dire need of repair and is appealing for raw material such as tar and shingle to aid in her venture.

“We do need a significant amount of help, monetary and otherwise, to make a serious impact in terms of road repairs,” she said.

Meanwhile, Manager of Communications and Customer Service at the National Works Agency, Stephen Shaw, says the agency has no plans right now for Spanish Town, beyond routine maintenance of drains which pose a problem. He says the NWA is particularly concerned with the drains along Young Street and Burke Road. He says these drains are often blocked and as such, cause flooding.

Shaw says improper garbage disposal and improper parking, which result in damage to sidewalks, pose great challenges for the NWA.