SOME residents of upper St Andrew have threatened to take up placards to protest poor road infrastructure and unrestricted real estate developments, as they say they are tired of their cries falling on deaf ears.

The Jamaica Observer was taken on a tour of Waterworks Road and adjoining thoroughfares in Kingston 8, starting from the Manor Park area, where various roadways that were recently patched have already started disintegrating.

The residents claim that a lot of the problems they face stem from an increase in large real estate projects in the area, as when projects are being executed, roads are dug up and not repaired properly. They also suspect that unregulated construction is a main factor in roads being damaged frequently even after being fixed.

“We are planning a protest, if nothing happens,” one resident threatened.

That resident, who withheld his name, pointed to a spot where water was spouting through a break in the asphalt on Waterworks Road. “They don’t use shingles or anything like that when they are fixing the roads, so the road is being eaten out from underneath,” he said.

As it relates to apartment projects being undertaken in the area, the resident said the road infrastructure can’t support the developments.

Water running from a break in the asphalt at a section of Waterworks Avenue in St Andrew on Monday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Pointing to premises on Waterworks Road where heavy-duty trucks used in construction were parked, the resident said the community has no idea what the plans for the location are, and is opposed to any more major construction projects at this time. Attempts have been made by members of the community to acquire information from the authorities about the developers’ plans, but they have hit a roadblock, having been told by authorities that they can get a copy of the documents in 60 days. However, this time frame poses a problem for the residents who said they are aware that under the law, they have a limited period in which to file an objection to any proposed construction projects.

In a letter recently penned by residents, which the
Observer saw, the residents said, “For nearly two years, residents of Broadway Close, Broadway Road, Sharrow Drive, and Waterworks Road in Kingston 8 have endured a slow-motion disaster. A developer dug up their roads to lay sewer pipes, left the reinstatement in a dangerously substandard condition, and vanished — while the authorities responsible for enforcing the law have failed to act. The result is that a car recently hit a sinkhole in a patched section and got stuck. Inferior patching work has crumbled under the weight of daily traffic. And residents are left asking a question that echoes across Jamaica: why are the laws on the books not being enforced?”

It continued: “The Parochial Roads Act gives the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) clear and unequivocal authority over parochial roads like Broadway Road and Waterworks Road. It requires any developer digging up a public road to obtain a road-opening permit and provide a refundable security deposit — money held by the KSAMC to ensure that if the developer fails to properly restore the road, the corporation can do the job using those funds,” the letter stated.

“…On Broadway Road and Waterworks Road, the developer dug up the roads, laid pipes, and left behind inferior patching that has deteriorated into sinkholes and dangerous driving conditions. The KSAMC’s preliminary finding, confirmed by Member of Parliament for the area Delano Seiveright, is clear.

“But where is the accountability? If [a security deposit] was obtained [from the developer], why hasn’t it been used to fix the roads? If none was obtained, why was the developer allowed to dig up public roads without providing the required guarantee?“

SEIVERIGHT… said he shared the frustration of residents

Seiveright, meanwhile, said he shared the frustration of residents, stating that their concerns are legitimate and that he has been lobbying on their behalf for a remedy.

“It is important to note that the Waterworks issue pre-dates my election as Member of Parliament [for St Andrew North Central],“ he pointed out. ”Since taking office, I have met repeatedly with officials at the highest levels of the Ministry of Water, the National Water Commission (NWC), KSAMC, and the National Environment and Planning Agency, carried out several site visits and technical walk-throughs, and spoken directly with many affected residents. I also escalated the matter to Minister [of Water] Matthew Samuda.“

He said the situation in Waterworks centres on corrective works following a private developer’s sewer project in the area. He added that while the developer is at the heart of this debacle, he is pleased that KSAMC and the NWC are now working assiduously to deliver a proper resolution.

Seiveright said his advocacy has also helped to prompt a broader review of how these projects are supervised, with stronger oversight and policy improvements now being actively pursued.

“I am aware of similar issues in other communities. More broadly, residents have raised concerns about overdevelopment, infrastructure capacity and protecting community character. I share those concerns. Development must be responsible, properly planned and supported by adequate infrastructure. I have consistently conveyed residents’ views to the relevant authorities and have encouraged stronger community organisation,“ he explained.

“The Orange Grove/Bridgemount Citizens’ Association is an excellent example of the kind of united, constructive leadership that helps communities achieve results. I will continue to press vigorously for better communication with residents, stronger enforcement where necessary, and practical solutions that protect both our communities and their quality of life,” he said.