Dear Editor,

Travelling between Manchester Central and St Catherine North Western for dutiful engagement, twice per day, for five days per week, can be testing at times. The journey becomes far more depressing due to the deluge of dilapidated roads. Careful as one drives, the vehicle cannot escape the potholes, adding to the almost continuous bounce on the undulating surfaces.

Proper roads seem to be an elusive feat in Jamaica, except for the toll roads. It is an arduous travail trying to cope with most of the other thoroughfares.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced in Parliament, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, that each Member of Parliament (MP) would be allotted $2 million for bushing and road repairs in their constituencies during the Christmas period. But far greater than the measly allocation of $1.323 billion is needed to revamp the alarmingly high number of ramshackle roads across the country. An example of the expenditure that is required was revealed in the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, under the heading, ‘$2.4-billion repair bill’. That was the estimated cost given by MP for Manchester Southern, Robert Chin, to overhaul the roads in his constituency.

It is questionable whether the Government understands the enormity of the bad road conditions in Jamaica. The website our.today posted an article on October 1, 2022 with the headline ‘Jamaica more than makes good on its debt payment… and Clarke takes heat for it?’ The document highlighted that the Government of Jamaica was due to pay $16 billion at the end of the 2022 first quarter, but paid $30 billion; instead which was J$14 billion more than was required. That extra repayment figure averages over $222 million for the 63 constituencies.

Although the nation’s road network is among the critical infrastructure, there are other needs, and so all that money would likely not go towards roads. But far more than the $21 million that was granted by the prime minister could be available to repair additional kilometres.

Expediting our debt payment is desirable because it should redound to the benefit of the country. But at what cost? It is not certain how long from today the debt will be paid off or significantly reduced. But what should not be discounted is the certainty that it will cost vastly more to restore the roads in the future. Hence, it is debatable if the Government is being penny wise and pound foolish.

The ruined roads have led to warranted protests across the island by frustrated motorists and residents. Let us hope that our plight will be alleviated post-haste due to judicious decisions of the Government.

Peter Gordon

Mandeville, Manchester

digmeup@yahoo.com