AN appeal by residents of Ramble, St Thomas, for the authorities to quickly repair the rotting Shooting River Bridge has riled up Jamaica Observer online readers who have accused the Government of being negligent. The brigdge was recently closed by the National Works Agency. But, in a story that was published in Observer North & East yesterday under the headline ‘Death Trap’, the residents complained that the bridge would not have rotted if regular maintenance was being carried out. Here are some edited comments:

ramases

It is known as preventative maintainence, something that is alien to our way of thinking. As long as the the steel frame is sound the board replacement is relatively simple and still a lot less expensive than steel flooring. Two million dollars or less can more than adequately do the job, including labour, unless they are planning to use imported teak. This type of situation should never become a public issue, it should have been rectified from day one.

D.Blackham

@ramases: Who told you that we don’t know about preventative maintenance? You’re wrong. But you must understand that approach will do good for Jamaica and Jamaicans saving scarce resources. Don’t make me laugh at you! Why should we do something on a timely basis that “no food can’t eat off”. Listen when the people demonstrates and block the road about it then it becomes priority. Priority means emergency money not a $100,000 project but a $10 million one. Which one can food run off from?

Sanity

@ramases: The bridge looks so narrow… and they talk about trucks passing over it? I really thought it was a pedestrian bridge when I started to read the article. In a country where it rains so much I don’t know why anyone would use wood to form part of a roadway. Was the wood even “treated” to slow down rotting? This is just unbelievable! Too many quick fixes and no long-term planning.

NejeeperKNG

If only PSM would just read the news, she wouldn’t be missing out on these opportunities. This is an opportunity for photo ops and ribbon-cutting. Come on — fix the bridge and take photos and cut ribbon as if you are doing the people a favour.

I don’t know what you people want the Government to do; take a pay cut to fix bridges? You people are behaving wicked and uncaring: the leadership has to maintain high-end SUVs and travel frequently with entourage. If unuh ah fi use di bridge a night unuh mek bottle torch. Unuh fi glad seh metal still deh pon di bridge. If unuh keep talking, mi sen som businessmen dung deh name scrap metal traders mek dem show unuh how ah whole bridge can disappear in ah one night.

MeDoneTalk

$200M for Obama road-fixing and another $200M to fight Riverton fire, but can’t find $2M to fix a “wooden” bridge. Hang in there a little longer. They’ll find the money when they need your votes come election time.

chuck emanuel the first

@MeDoneTalk: My point exactly. Poor people government can find money to fix up good road for Obama, but couldn’t find one hundredth of that amount to fix a crumbling bridge. See what Portia and her cohorts think of you?

ziondlion

Common sense isn’t so common. These so-called politicians don’t give a damn, and every election it is the same people who are voting them in.

FL Construction Engineer

ziondlion: I honestly understand your position. The mindset of the people have to change for any changes to take place. This is a walkway bridge so its a simple fix done complete in my career journey.

Herbert Cato

@ziondlion: Except this time; I think these residents who have to use this bridge are carrying the wrong party flag.

jayjayja

Signs of growth and development after 22 years of PNP leadership and the people say “Vote PNP”.

Chapter1

@jayjayja: What is the alternative to the PNP?

jamguest

About two years ago I was home in St Thomas and drove up through Llandewey to get to Cedar Valley. When I got to the bridge and saw its condition, I hitched a reverse, telling myself, “No sah!”

spanishtown12

Can we do anything right the first time in this country?

Jamaica a mi blood line

Not a darn thing is gonna be done to this bridge until a fatality occurs as a result of it… then you’ll see all the heartless so-called ‘officials’ coming to inquire. Utter rubbish! The things we Jamaicans go through, it’s just ridiculous! But, when it comes down to spending money on things that can wait or of less importance it’s always available. KMDT!

peejay the original

Just excuses as always like last year, the year before. Do they have time to even work on anything? Routine maintenance checks should be applied constantly instead of neglect. Did they fix all the bridges that they said they would two years ago? I don’t think so. You have work crews collecting pay cheques. What do they do? Or I should say get out of your cushy office and inspect and give work orders! How many employees work there? What do they actually do to earn their pay?

Jermaine Johnson

$2 million to fix the bridge and National Works Agency can’t find it? Suh wat happen to the tax money offa gas? Mi did think sey it was suppose to help fix the road! I guess someone has to die first for them to take heed. This current Administration (PNP) is something else.

noshel

Total slackness!

general69

Congratulations to the PNP… now and then.

Phil T McNasty

Government members cross this bridge all the time to go keep political meeting! IRONIC!

RunHaden

This is Portia and the beloved PNP regime at work. And them ago vote them in back next year I’m sure.