Dear Editor,

The residents of the Greenwood, St James, community are paying in more ways than one to have their roads fixed.

Ask any resident of Greenwood to identify his/her biggest complaint about the community and the answer is universal: the condition of the roads. When the Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme was announced, residents began to dream of new and improved streets. That dream, however, has quickly turned into a nightmare.

Since early last year, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and its workers have set up large, industrial-style worksites that are persistent sources of noise pollution, harmful fumes, and disrespectful conduct. In only nine months, CHEC, in my opinion, has transformed the once-beautiful Greenwood community into a polluted, miserable environment that residents can barely endure.

While residents have attempted dialogue with the company and its liaison officer, little progress has been made towards an acceptable resolution. Even more disappointing has been the response of elected representatives. The parish council has been slow to act, and Member of Parliament (MP) Edmund Bartlett has seemingly turned a blind eye to the plight of his constituents. Despite repeated efforts to reach out, there has been no answer, no assistance, and no accountability.

It is for this reason that I turn to the editor and the public to raise awareness about the struggles of Greenwood’s residents and to appeal directly to the St James Municipal Corporation and MP Bartlett.

What will be done to address residents’ concerns? Why was Greenwood specifically chosen to host these worksites? Why do our elected officials remain silent while their constituents suffer?

What does it cost to fix a road? For the residents of Greenwood — far too much.

Cameron Burton

burton.cameron@yahoo.com