Dear Editor,

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reached for half of the whole alphabet to design programmes to address the state of the nation’s roads — Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme, Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) road rehab programme, and whatever else. The problem is I fear he — and moreso the people of Jamaica — will not get value for money.

I cannot speak for the whole island, but I travel across Portmore and see some glaring issues.

At the road leaving Portmore, near the mall, approaching the toll road, which was formerly called T-Junction, roadwork people patched half of the road (left side) weeks ago and are yet to return to address the other side. I am not sure what the logic is in this piecemeal approach to this main road. This method can’t be efficient. And even if they ran out of material, how long does it take to restock? The result is a jostling for access to the paved side of the road as other motorists swing from the potholes yet to be patched.

In Greater Portmore, all the entrance/exit roads to the roundabout are riddled with ever-widening potholes. Even within the roundabout there is need for much manoeuvring to not be swallowed up by craters. None of these have been touched by any programme.

What is interesting, though, is that, just a few metres away, a minor road got full carpet treatment. One has had to wonder who lives on that road why it got this seemingly ‘special’ treatment. Even the road leading to it was in much worse condition. Who thought this was the best decision and use of resources?

On the #20 bus route — running from the Bridgeport roundabout to the Greater Portmore roundabout — the road was in a deplorable state. Happy were we to see workmen patching it a week ago.

Imagine now the disappointment to the see the ridiculous job that was done. The quality of the work leaves much to be desired. Even to the untrained eye, it is clear that one shower of rain is all it will take to wash out the asphalt that has been put down. The peaks that have been created because of the workmen not levelling the surface makes for a roller-coaster ride. Now, rather than fall into potholes motorists must mount peaks and hills. Let it spell sense for me, please.

What’s more, they have patched some holes on this route but have left others. For what? Round two? There are even instances in which a patch job is inches away from a pothole that was left. Who is monitoring this work? Who approves of this?

Holness promised that there would be inspections and quality control systems built into the roadwork. Where are they? We, the residents, are not seeing the results.

This seems as if it will all boil down to a grand waste of money.

With the no work, sloppy work, and half work evident just in Portmore, one wonders what obtains elsewhere.

Andrew, dem a waste the money! Don’t sit by and let it happen. In a few shakes we’re going to be back at square one after billions spent.

Afronose

St Catherine

bigzy_2000@yahoo.com