Merlene Bailey: Keeping watch at St Francis

This is the second story in the Automotives series on traffic wardens, bringing you closer to some of the persons who ensure the safety of especially the young ones as they make their way to and from school each day.

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Like the gaze of a mother eagle surveying her surroundings, watching out for her hatchlings as they feed or play in the nest, so, too, are the eyes of Merlene Bailey. She is stationed at the pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the St Francis Primary and Infant School, Old Hope Road, St Andrew, watching out, especially for young students who trek across the busy roadway on schooldays.

Waking up at 5 a.m. to reach the pedestrian crossing by 7 a.m. may not be easy for most persons, but for Bailey, there is a pressing need to get there on time. The St Francis students are present at that time of morning and require her assistance in getting to school safely.

Bailey also provides safe passage to practising teachers going to St Joseph's Teachers College, as well as other adults. She has been a traffic warden for six years, always stationed at the St Francis crossing.

The most rewarding parts of the job are the smiles Bailey gets from children who tell her thanks as they cross the road and those who sometimes stop on the pedestrian crossing to hug her.

PATH CLEARED

As the children's little feet assemble at the pedestrian crossing, Bailey, with precision and accuracy, ventures into the roadway to clear a path through vehicles that seem like towering behemoths to the little ones.

Working the pedestrian crossing twice a day, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m is not a cakewalk. Bailey pointed out that her job becomes challenging when she has to deal with impatient students and disobedient drivers.

"The most difficult situation is the motorists. Even with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses, when I see them, I have to stop them from a far distance. I have to put up the sign to alert them. If I catch them on a short distance, you know what is bound to happen," she said.

Also, Bailey said, "I have to be on the lookout for some motorists because you have some of them who do not obey the school crossing wardens. And I also have to look out for the kids because some of them dash out into the streets. Some motorists do not stop. Other motorists are more courteous. In everything, you have the good and bad."

Bailey said mornings tend to be more more hectic as students are rushing to get to school. The evenings are more relaxed, as many parents come to St Francis to collect their children.