PUSEY HILL, Manchester — Frustrated residents of Manchester Southern on Monday mounted roadblocks in protest over deplorable roads and dilapidated facilities, including a primary school and health centre.

The placard-bearing residents downed trees and used debris to block the Lancaster to Pusey Hill main road. Commuters, including children, either had to stay home or walk for miles on Monday.

For years Manchester Southern residents have been complaining about the lack of good roads, potable water and employment opportunities.

One resident, Kenrick Morgan, said the area has been neglected.

“I had to walk about two miles because there is no taxi. We don’t have any roads here; pure pothole. Pothole a kill wi yah. You can’t even walk at night because you will drop inna pothole. We have nobody to talk to,” he said.

“A long time di road bad. Everybody come seh dem a go fix road and nothing happens,” he added.

Efforts to get a comment from Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern Robert Chin were unsuccessful as he was unable to speak with the Jamaica Observer up to press time on Monday.

A resident of Pratville, who identified himself as Jah B, said Manchester Southern lacks representation.

“The road from Newport to here needs to be fixed. Down to the Pratville Primary School mash up,” he said.

“We tired of this thing. We no have no MP a South Manchester. From the hurricane blow until now no pickney can’t get to go the school. They spread all over. Some are at the Adventist church,” he added.

In addition to the road, residents are calling for the repair of Pratville Primary and Pratville Health Centre, after both were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

Linford “Ivan” Durrant said the absence of the health centre is one of two concerns affecting the health of residents. The other is non-collection of garbage.

“We couldn’t tell when last the garbage was collected; the garbage is getting old. This is not a political thing, is a negligence thing because this has been happening for years. Both parties rule around here and we nuh get nutten this side because, according to them, this is not their stronghold,” he said.

“People live here and we are humans; we want representation,” he added.

Hubert Forbes, a senior citizen in Pusey Hill, said he has had to park his vehicle and take public transportation due to the bad roads.

“I was going to Mandeville and dropped in a pothole — after swinging from two others — and burst my tyre; [it] cost me $23,000. Right now I have to park my vehicle and take a taxi. The road from Toll Gate to Pusey Hill is bad too. The potholes are on both sides of the road, so we need some road,” he said.

Another resident, Shane Vassell, expressed concerns over safety in the area as he pointed to the need for a functional motor vehicle at Asia Police Station.

“We need road. The police don’t have a working service vehicle. Nutten nah gwaan. We want some recreational things done here. Nothing is happening down here because we don’t have any representation,” he said.

“We back a time down here bad. We need justice. We want performance,” he said.