Better roads needed in peaceful seaside neighbourhood

The Greenwood community, located at the border of Trelawny and St James, is one of western Jamaica’s more peaceful areas despite being close to one of the state of public emergency (SOE) checkpoints, with poor roads being the residents’ only common complaint.

At the entrance to the community, near the highway, several small stores and a supermarket cater to the needs of the residents. Crime in the area is currently minimal, and water is readily accessible and in plentiful supply to the residents.

Beverly Bernard, a retiree who has lived in Greenwood for 20 years, told the WESTERN STAR that one of the community’s enduring characteristics is the willingness of residents to look out for each other.

“Greenwood is special because the majority of persons who own property here are returning residents, and we all would look after each other, so I would watch your house and you’d watch mine. We’re very contended out here, and we’re a loving neighbourhood,” Bernard said happily.

ROCKY ROAD

But as one travels more deeply into the neighbourhood, the need for better roads becomes more apparent. While sections of the roadway have had rehabilitation work done on them, other portions are rocky and take some time to navigate.

Everard Prout, a younger resident who has lived in Greenwood for 25 years, acknowledged that while Greenwood has few problems to speak of, there are several sections of the road that need to be addressed.

“The main issue here is the road. If you make some turn-offs, not everywhere is paved, but otherwise, there aren’t really many problems up here,” said Prout.

Sonya Mordecai, a store operator whose business is near the community’s entrance, highlighted both the roads and several leaning lamp posts as needing urgent attention. She also spoke about some low-hanging electrical wires near the roadway.

“There are a lot of concerns here. The authorities could lift up the drooping electrical wires a little more, and address the lightposts that are leaning, plus a lot of people are concerned about the potholes in the road,” said Mordecai.

– C.T.