Dear Editor,

The following is an open letter to Fayval Williams, Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern:

I write to you as a concerned resident of St Andrew Eastern compelled by the worsening state of our road network and the growing frustration among the people you represent.

The condition of our roads has moved far beyond inconvenience; it has become a daily burden — one that affects safety, mobility, economic activity, and the dignity of our communities.

Mountain View Avenue, a major thoroughfare used by thousands daily, remains plagued by uneven surfaces, recurring potholes, and drainage issues that make sections hazardous after rainfall.

Similarly, Old Hope Road in the Liguanea area, a critical commercial and commuter corridor, has fallen into a state that is both unsightly and unsafe.

But the crisis extends far beyond the main roads. Many minor roads across have deteriorated significantly. These smaller roads are essential for daily life as they connect homes to schools, businesses, churches, and transportation routes. Riddled with deep potholes, broken pavements, poor drainage, these long-neglected surfaces worsen with each rainfall.

The impact is felt everywhere: Motorists facing constant vehicle damage, pedestrians forced into dangerous pathways, schoolchildren navigating unsafe crossings, and public transportation operators avoiding certain routes altogether. These conditions disrupt daily life, hinder emergency access, and place unnecessary financial strain on families already stretched thin.

Residents in these areas feel forgotten, as if their communities exist outside the scope of planned development.

What deepens the frustration is the silence surrounding two initiatives that were expected to bring relief — the SPARK Program and the GO Programme. Both were introduced with the promise of infrastructural upgrades and targeted community improvements. Yet, on the ground, residents see little evidence of meaningful progress. The questions grow louder each day:

MP Williams, election after election, the people of St Andrew Eastern are asked for their votes. We participate in good faith believing that our voices matter and that our support will translate into meaningful representation. In return, we expect our needs to be taken seriously. If we are asked to show up at the polls, then we deserve to see our Member of Parliament show up for us consistently, visibly, and with action that improves our daily lives.

We are not asking for miracles. We are asking for action.

The people of St Andrew Eastern deserve:

• a clear update on the status of the SPARK and GO programmes

• a timeline for road repairs — major and minor

• visible, measurable progress that reflects the urgency of our situation

MP Williams, the residents of this constituency have shown patience, but patience cannot substitute for action.

We are calling on you to advocate forcefully on our behalf to ensure that the promises made to this constituency are honoured.

St Andrew Eastern deserves safe, reliable, and dignified infrastructure. We look forward to your response and to timely improvements.

A concerned resident

St Andrew Eastern