NORWICH HEIGHTS, Portland — Residents of Norwich Heights in Portland on Sunday took to the streets to fix some of the worst sections of Hummingbird Boulevard, the main road within their community.

They said they were forced to act as appeals to elected representatives and State agencies have so far failed to bear fruit.

“We are fixing the drain because it goes down the hill and, whenever it rains, water comes on the road and not in the drain. So, we are fixing it to ensure that the water travels and stays in it so that the road itself can remain sound. On the road, we are using marl mixed with cement to see if the surface can be better,” chairman of Norwich Heights Citizens’ Association Godfrey Flemmings told the
Jamaica Observer.

Elecia Bailey-Hamilton, who is an executive member of the association, explained the steps taken before they decided to do the work themselves.

“We have reached out to different entities like the HAJ [Housing Agency of Jamaica, which is responsible for the scheme]; our Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz [Jamaica Labour Party, East Portland]; and other persons. We have not gotten the response that we would have wanted and we decided to take the initiative on our head to fix our road,” said Bailey-Hamilton.

“We have gotten some promises from HAJ; they came, did their survey, and went back to the drawing board so we are waiting on them. Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz visited, along with the minister responsible for works Everald Warmington, and he has made a promise to us, along with the Member of Parliament, and we are waiting on that to be fulfilled,” she said.

According to
Observer sources, actions being taken by the minister are at the procurement phase.