KINGSTON, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for St Andrew East Rural, Patrick Peterkin, is calling on the National Works Agency (NWA) to urgently clear and reopen the main roadway linking Maryland to Woodford, which has been rendered impassable following landslides triggered by heavy rains on Tuesday night.

In a release on Saturday, he noted that several communities, including Happy Gate District, Cambridge, Woodford, and Free Town District, have been significantly affected.

Peterkin said the disruption has had an immediate and severe impact on daily life, with residents now forced to take alternative routes through Norbrook Hill, adding an extra 30 to 45 minutes to their commute. He said transportation costs have at least doubled, placing further strain on already burdened households.

“This is not acceptable. Residents are feeling the pressure and they need relief,” he said.

He stressed that a more urgent and coordinated response is required to restore access and stabilise conditions for affected communities.

Peterkin is also calling for durable, long-term solutions to address the recurring problem of landslides and road damage in the area, particularly in light of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

“We cannot continue to take a reactive approach. There must be sustained investment in proper drainage systems, slope stabilisation and resilient infrastructure to prevent these disruptions from becoming a recurring nightmare for residents,” he said.

He assured constituents that their concerns will continue to be raised and that he will be pressing for immediate action alongside lasting interventions to safeguard access and livelihoods across St Andrew East Rural.