ISLINGTON, St Mary — Residents of Islington, Central St Mary, are calling on Government to repair and reopen the post office in their community.

Almost one year after Hurricane Sandy destroyed sections of the building, the residents said that they have been without a post office since, forcing them to travel to Port Maria to access postal services.

The new arrangement, they said, is not only tedious, especially for the elderly, but is also proving to be costly to the residents.

With fare increases in the public transportation sector taking effect today, the residents want something to be done urgently.

“It badly needed, especially for the old people, especially for the pensioners,” stated community resident Kareen Budhai.

She said that many persons used the post office to collect and pay bills as well as to collect their pension.

“It a affect the people dem bad bad. Dem have to leave go Port Maria and that have to solve now,” Lincoln Lynch added.

“One man go down de and drop down and dead,” he further stated.

“Sometimes people go down there and not even fare dem no have. You have to give dem a $100 until dem come back,” Lynch added.

The residents also complained of the poor road conditions on which they have to travel to get to Port Maria.

“The post office needed round here, man,” another man stated.

Residents said that there has been talk of building a new post office but said the old building is still useable. They also stated that whatever decision is made, some temporary arrangements should be made to accommodate residents and prevent them from making trips into the parish capital.

“We want the post office back, like now,” Lynch said.