MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Placard-bearing residents and taxi operators mounted a roadblock on the Brokenhurst main road, south of Mandeville, to protest over the deplorable road conditions in their community on Monday.

The protest forced some commuters to walk for miles to access transportation in the neighbouring community of Old England.

The residents and taxi operators told journalists that they feel neglected by their political representatives, as they called for urgent repairs to the Patrick Town road and Brokenhurst main road.

Damion Edwards, a taxi operator and resident of Brokenhurst, said the patience of the community has run out for the road to be repaired.

“The road is in a deplorable condition and the people of Brokenhurst have been suffering for the past four years. We have endured until we can’t anymore. We are having a peaceful protest so we can get to those in authority about the condition of the road. We have a situation where even those who are working minimum wage are affected as they are unable to get transportation to go home in the evenings, because the taxis leave them at the entrance [of Patrick Town],” he said.

He said taxi operators previously would transport commuters into Patrick Town, but the road condition has become a deterrent.

“We used to drive through the area, but now people have to pay even $1,000 to go into the community, because taxis refuse to carry them in based on the condition of the road, so we are calling on the Member of Parliament (Rhoda Crawford) and the relevant authority to assist us here in Brokenhurst,” he said.

Ellen Street taxi operator Clive Pascoe shared similar sentiments.

“This is the only way to let our voices be heard and for the necessary authorities to take action… This road hasn’t been repaired since about 2016. We are having a bad task with this road as taxi operators. We vent our frustration to the Member of Parliament and the councillor, but it is just a run-around, so we had to resort to the last option,” he said.

Councillor Karl Smith (People’s National Party, Knockpatrick division), in response, committed to lobbying for the repair of the parochial road in Patrick Town. He suggested that the Manchester Municipal Corporation write to the Ministry of Local Government and portfolio Minister Desmond McKenzie for assistance with funding to repair the road.

“I am aware of the condition and I can only speak for the parochial road. Last week during the council meeting I asked for an estimate to be done on this road here. I have not received the estimate yet, but I am aware that the road is in a terrible condition and people are suffering because of that,” he said.

“I will be following up to see how fast they can get an estimate and based on what we have received for road fixing in the parish council I am almost sure as a councillor I won’t be able to fix it, so after receiving the estimate I will be asking the council to write to the minister to see how best we get some assistance in fixing these roads,” he added.

— Kasey Williams