Dear Editor,

It is interesting to note that the Government of Jamaica has evolved into a one-ministry organisation with the prime minister being the one and only minister in charge.

I just heard on the radio that he, on a visit to the oppressed community of Bull Bay, made the amazing discovery that the Bull Bay Police Station was in the middle of the left-hand lanes (on the way to town) of the new highway. Now I live in Bull Bay and even though I am not privy to the plans for the design of the highway it was clear to me with the approaches and bridges being built, over a year ago, that the days of the antiquated police station were numbered. I wonder if the project managers knew the route of the highway was through the police station. So it is with some bewilderment that I ask: Why is the police station still there? Perhaps the powers that be can have it relocated in town, where there is access to social, commercial, and recreational services. Anyway, it should be noted that had it not been for the prime minister’s astute observation the hard-working members of the Bull Bay Police Station might have found themselves facing an excavator’s bucket coming through the roof one day while attending to their daily activities, not to mention the prisoners in the lock-up.

This situation brings me back to the lack of planning that has been at the forefront of the development of this road network. The construction brought into sharp focus the ad hoc state of development generally on display along the strip of land from Harbour View to the border of St Thomas. We now have evidence that there really is no planning. As for the Bull Bay post office, its operations were moved to the Windward Road post office, which I presume will eventually be moved to the South Camp Road facility, where I suspect it will likely be eliminated entirely. Just imagine the savings. And these savings could be given to the newly unemployed through welfare vouchers, thereby securing votes for the next election.

The Jamaican situation is unfortunate and distressing. Besides the breakdown of social cohesion and the ever-widening wealth gap, the environmental degradation will be to the detriment of us all. One day the quarry that is located at Seven Miles will eventually cut through the hill to clear a path to August Town and the dust will choke those who invested their lives in building homes and businesses in the area.

Although, it must be said that pure marl can be a highly valuable mineral, which can result in millions of dollars being earned for those who extract it. But for those of us who now live in the mining area, well, we just have to wish we hadn’t moved here in the first place.

For those politicians and wealthy merchants who consider all others who constantly complain of the lack of services, infrastructure, planning, and safety as being spreaders of gloom and doom, I hope they arrive at their road to Damascus one day. They will have to use their money for firewood and sea water to cook and bathe. Who cares about Jamaica 2030, we are still living in 1838.

By the way, we also have the new urban-style jersey barrier in the middle of the road all along the roadway through the community. Amazing. I wonder how that will work.

Hugh M Dunbar

Architect

hmdenergy@gmail.com