NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The National Works Agency (NWA) has indicated that much-needed rehabilitation work is to be carried out on the West End Road in Negril, which is currently in a horrible condition.

The NWA’s community relations officer, western region, Janel Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer last Tuesday that while she was unable to give a precise start-up date, plans are in high gear for comprehensive work on the road.

Ricketts said the work to be carried out will be comprehensive.

“The area has a drainage issue as well, so that entire area will have to be reshaped and so on. It is not just the patching but it is a complete rehabilitation of that stretch,” stated Ricketts.

Residents have been complaining about the thoroughfare for some time now. The most recent display of their displeasure was on March 13 when they staged a peaceful protest.

Negril Chamber of Commerce President Elaine Allen Bradley is pleased that the area will be getting the attention it deserves.

“The work has long been overdue. We have heard that the contract was awarded for over a month or so but as we here are always used to the talk with no action, we have been waiting with bated breath to see it really and truly happening. Once that was done, you would have thought that the contractor would have started to mobilise instead of waiting so long to start,” stated Allen Bradley.

“The infrastructure of everything in Negril, especially the West End, has been so very badly neglected over the years it makes you wonder if the people who govern ever really thought that the humans who lived there and paid taxes are deserving. I am so glad that now we are really being treated as human beings,” the chamber president said.

And, with the area being impacted by a severe shortage of piped water, Allen Bradley is hoping that the repaired road will not be dug up by the National Water Commission (NWC).

“As you know we have a major problem with water and I am wondering if when the road is fixed would it be dug up by NWC to lay pipes and leave the area in a mess as is the customary thing that happens over the years,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the NWA is assuring the public that attention will be given to a section of West End Road that was severely compromised during a cold front which affected the island in February.

Following the devastating weather which resulted in the collapse of a retaining wall and a section of the road caved in, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and others visited the area.

At that time, Holness said a new seawall would have to be constructed utilising the emergency procurement process.

On Tuesday, Ricketts told the Observer that the project is now out for tender.

“It will be a comprehensive project that involves building a retaining wall structure there — sea difference work and repairing the damaged retaining wall — fill in the exposed section and asphalt it,” she explained.

The torrential weather had also resulted in the area being inundated with sea grass that washed ashore.

Ricketts said the area was cleaned, as promised by the prime minister.

“The situation there is not what existed after we had the high tide that ruined the section there. The prime minister gave a commitment and we were given an instruction and we followed through on that,” she told the Observer.

While the work to have the breakaway addressed is now out to tender, the chamber president is fearful of what could happen in the meantime.

“Right now, the part by the breakaway is collapsing. The huge buses going to Rick’s Café might fall in because I saw a fresh hole breaking out in the main part of the road now,” stated Allen Bradley.

In addition to the need for speed, she also spoke of the need to have quality work done.

“Hopefully we will see and make sure that the work will be done efficiently and effectively to a very high standard that is deserving of decent human beings. No slap and dash work will be tolerated after this long-awaited development for some recognition,” said the Chamber president.

“Thanks to all who have worked hard for this unique and prestigious tourist destination to be recognisable, and for getting back a little of the amount of dollars that the town has brought into the TEF coffers. Those monies generated through tourism would first help the towns, and the people who have worked tirelessly to help earn it would benefit,” added Allen Bradley.