The goodly people of St Andrew want better and they deserve it. On Tuesday night, residents congregated in the hall of Alleyne School to listen to the Government and get the ear of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The session called St Andrew Speaks did not lack speakers, as many wanted to be heard on their desire for better after decades of what some termed “neglect”.
It was an almost four-hour town hall meeting at which other government officials and technocrats in various ministries fielded questions. The PM herself commented on the fact that the St Andrew session was the longest of the parish public engagements she has had so far.
Residents came armed with their concerns, challenges and plights. But many also came with suggestions that the PM promised would be acted upon, where possible.
The issues they raised included: a lack of recreational facilities, community and resource centres, agro-training facility, title deeds for tenantry land, and educational and training opportunities; deplorable road and bridge conditions; inadequate lighting; poor accessibility in and out of the parish; and the need for an improved bus service, a shuttle service for residents in Bawdens, St Simon and Belleplaine to synchronise with the Turner’s Hall bus, and a tree planting initiative that would improve soil conditions and boost food security.
Lack of running water, postal issues and inadequate other social services were also some of the complaints laid before the Government panel that included Deputy PM Santia Bradshaw, Attorney General Dale Marshall, MP for the area Dr Rommel Springer, and Senior Minister Dr William Duguid.
Andrew Jordan from White Hill was one of many who spoke.
He recalled: “I remember when the road in White Hill collapsed, my son was in primary school; he is working now. October coming will be 19 years. You all say work will be done but I was hearing that over eight years ago and nothing at all has been done. Promises, promises, and promises. I have been hearing ‘hold tight’ for so long I want to know when we can let go.
“People complain that they got potholes in the road and they want a new road. People want a new road but we don’t even have a road. We have to go through the gully and through mud and everything. Many times, I slipped down in there and fall [sic]. It is time enough something should be done now. Another thing, when we get off there is no lighting. Can you imagine going through a gully with no light? Thank God for cell phones,” he further lamented.
Government did not shy away from St Andrew’s reality. PM Mottley said she was concerned that over the years, scores of people were leaving the Scotland District because of a significant lack of social services and amenities that people in other parts of the island have access to.
“Regrettably, what we have seen over the last few decades is people moving out of St Andrew, people moving out of St Joseph, parts of St Peter, largely because we have not carried the services to the people.”
She said, however, that there is a planning programme for bringing services back to the Scotland District so that people would want to remain there.
“The population numbers in the Scotland District have dropped significantly . . . so let us work to stabilise the Scotland District and let us work to bring back the services.”
Mottley said the plan to establish the Scotland District Authority would run in conjunction with the $230 million Scotland District Rehabilitation Project and other initiatives such as the relocation of residents living in areas prone to land slippage, and a Scotland District Revolving Loan Fund for residents to access funding to avert crisis situations.
Barbados TODAY guest columnist John Beale opined in June: “While we appreciate the importance of developing the Scotland District, we trust that a thorough analysis (including investment possibilities) has been done to justify spending these funds at this time. In addition, has there been a study regarding the cost of road maintenance and the life expectancy of the new roads, given the high rainfall and soil movement – including soil creep and slippage?
“Such a large investment with an unknown life expectancy will need other activities to promote faster returns in order to compensate for the shorter life expectancy of the investment. One such example would have been Tom Adam’s ‘vision’ of an East Coast Road running continuously all the way to a Consett Bay and College Savannah which would have attracted more tourists.”
MP Springer shares the view that St Andrew can be transformed into a major tourism hub if advantage is taken of its natural beauty. He believes it could attract the kind of crowds seen at Oistins.
The hopes and plans are lofty, and rightly so. But attention must first turn to ensuring that those faithful residents who did not flee the area can live more comfortably than they are now.
The issues St Andrew face are not new; they are chronic. It is disheartening that Bajans who toil and contribute to national development must endure decades of “neglect” only because of the geological make-up of the parish they reside in.
Successive Governments knew; however, they all failed to act as the parish continued to slip away from the rest of the country, literally and figuratively.
St Andrew is often referred to as “The Valley” but it is high time residents’ living status is elevated.
As those who spoke for the dear parish they love said, “Better must come to St Andrew.”
