Residents in White Hill unaware of Government’s relocation plan

The details surrounding the relocation of White Hill, St Andrew residents, plagued for years by land slippage and uncertain road access, remain a mystery for some of them. They say, they are still to be told how the process will unfold.

On Friday when a Barbados TODAY team visited the area, residents said that the information they had so far received was by word-of-mouth and they were yet to see any documentation providing a list of names or explaining details of the process for relocation.

One resident, who only gave his name as Jordan, said he was somewhat confused.

“I remember that people came and asked for information, such as how many people were living in the house but they didn’t tell you anything. So I don’t know what is going to be done and all I can do is wait. They didn’t show us anything, nobody brought a list, all they doing is talking,” he said.

Jordan said he had “no problem” with the move as long as he was relocated “someplace decent”.

On Wednesday during a handing over ceremony in Farmers, St Thomas, Member of Parliament for St Andrew and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources Dr Romel Springer said that in addition to the 34 people who were to be relocated from White Hill in 2009 because of severe land slippage, an additional 16 people were also to be moved from that area and from Hillaby and St Simons.

In November 2014, a huge chunk of a road in that district that connects to Hillaby collapsed.

Springer said these additional residents had to move to make way for the construction of a new road.

On Friday resident Marilyn Boyce said it was her understanding that only residents on a certain side of the road were to be moved.

“This is the side that they say is to go but I am not too sure about the details. They said this side was unstable but the other side was okay. But we haven’t seen a list or an artist’s impression of the new road. We are just being told about plans but not seeing any paperwork. All we know is that they are planning to bypass the old road. Come around it and connect back to the road,” she said.

Boyce said she wanted to be relocated somewhere with proper access to public transportation.

She explained that she and a number of other residents preferred to “risk” and manoeuvre through the collapsed road than to walk down the long hill.

“The route to town was too long since the bridges had been closed,” she added.

“Most people park their vehicles at the opposite side and come through the collapsed road as it is more gas to pull to come around.”

She is looking forward to her relocation.

“I’m ready to move. I’m so ready. This is too long that we have been waiting on a road. We have old people who cannot get up through here because there is no bus. We depend heavily on the shuttle [that collects passengers from near Baxter’s Bridge] to get up here.”

Another resident, who has been living in the area for 26 years also said she was clueless as to the exact plans.

“We heard that they want to start in February but how are they going to start when we are not even sure who is to move?” she asked. “Things don’t seem like they’re fully organised yet.”

Shopkeeper Suzanne Jemmott, who has been living in the area for more than 24 years, said that as the adage suggests, White Hill folk were starting to appear to be“fools”, waiting on a promise.

“We were promised a new road years ago and we have been living and hoping that one would come. But year after year, we get nothing. You know they say a promise is a comfort to a fool and we hope that this time around we are no longer seen as fools for waiting,” she said.

About the promised road construction, resident Jordan said there were two houses at the top of the hill which he suspected had to be moved based on his understanding of how the new road would be constructed.

“My sister for sure will have to move and the other house on top the hill above her. But based on what they said they are going to do, they have a lot of digging and a lot of rock to cut, so it will take some time for the actual road to be done.”

On Wednesday Springer and Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland handed over keys to new homes at I’m Farmers, St Thomas to three residents from White Hill who were to be relocated since 2009. (SZB)