The lead story and accompanying photos in yesterday’s Observer offer compelling evidence of the ineptitude that passes for political representation in some areas of this country.

It is beyond acceptable that today, in the 21st Century, Jamaican citizens are being subjected to the kind of treatment described in the story.

The residents of Chesterfield, a small farming community in Castleton, St Mary, have been forced to risk their lives getting to work, school, church, and other places outside their community, all because of the absence of a bridge.

As was reported in yesterday’s story, in order to get from their community to the Junction main road, the residents are forced to wade through the Wag Water River.

According to people living in the community, over the past eight years at least five people have lost their lives, and countless others have been injured trying to cross the river.

“The last man that died was a 50-year-old farmer who was washed away as he attempted to leave the area,” said Mr Balford Pechoo, a resident who told us that he felt as if he was “living in a death trap”.

Added to the danger is the humiliation to which the residents are subjected as they are forced to divest themselves of some clothing to cross the river.

Now that just adds insult to the injury, especially for the fact that the residents say they have been lobbying the authorities for 15 years to erect a Bailey Bridge.

What is most unfortunate about this issue is that there are many other communities across the island that are experiencing similar, if not more severe difficulties and indignities.

The problems run the entire gamut from roads, to other vital infrastructure, to water supply, to electricity.

In most of the cases, the political representatives – whether at the national or local level – do not live in these forgotten communities. Quite frankly, they wouldn’t even think of living there, as they refuse to be subjected to the same inconveniences and inhumane treatment as their constituents.

The irony, though, is that these public servants take the time to visit these communities, and make lavish promises, when they are seeking the people’s votes.

It’s a five-year cycle that, while necessary to get into office, is abused by too many politicians as they treat the very people who employed them with total disdain and, indeed, contempt.

As we have pointed out before in this space, there are a few parliamentarians who, despite not living in their constituencies, do a good enough job of representation, and they are rewarded with the people’s trust at each election.

Those who don’t measure up to the people’s test are, in most instances, roundly rejected at the polls. But that doesn’t happen often enough.

It’s what should become the norm if representational politics is to live up to its original intention.

In the meantime, can the National Works Agency do something quickly about Chesterfield?