Slipe community in St Elizabeth needs urgent help

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing to you to draw your attention to the pressing problems that have plagued the community of Slipe in St Elizabeth. There are ongoing issues of bad road, lack of water and poor garbage collection. Every politician who comes here makes the same old promises, that we would get what we need. These are vital needs for any community’s health and success, yet they are still glaringly absent in our area.

There is an urgent need to repair the roads, which are riddled with potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces. At night, driving becomes even riskier. We are afraid that someone may lose their life, and, given the condition of the road, if anyone is injured they may not make it to the hospital on time. There are transportation options, as people avoid using taxis on that route. Farmers within the community suffer because suppliers avoid the road, and the people are suffering as a result.

Most people have to ride their bikes or bicycles to the closest standpipe to get water. Even young children are occasionally seen carrying water from a distance on their heads. This is unfair. Additionally, water shortages impact daily living, leading to pollution and sanitary issues. The lack of water will result in a loss of agricultural activities, leading to poverty and lack of development in the community. Imagine someone who usually has water going without it for four days because the Water Commission decides to turn it off without warning. How will they survive? Slipe is a small community, and their decision to purchase water from trucks will worsen the situation. If people have no choice but to drink water from the community’s small river, it may adversely affect their health. People in Slipe are going through hardships.

Garbage collection remains poor in the community. Every four to six months, the community’s main road is the only route taken by the garbage truck; the lanes are neglected. The community’s residents suffer from the pollution caused by the absence of proper garbage-collection services. They don’t have any choice and so the trash ends up on the roadside. Some people even have to load their trash into their cars and go elsewhere to dispose of it, even though a garbage truck should come at least once a month. Consider the amount of trash accumulating in the community over such a long time. The suffering is severe.

The local authorities must act immediately to resolve these urgent problems and make the required infrastructural improvements.

SHANISE ROYE