Elderly woman’s fall sparks community outrage

The usually quiet community of Goodland Gardens is up in arms after an elderly resident escaped serious injury after falling into an open well on Monday.

Seventy-two-year-old Lolene Rawlins was rescued by the Barbados Fire Service and the Roving Response team, hours after plunging down the 87-foot well, which was covered by bush.

The incident has raised questions about whether abandoned or unsecured wells across Barbados are being properly monitored, covered and maintained.

When a Barbados TODAY team visited the area on Thursday, workers from the Ministry of Transport and Works were already on site securing the well that Rawlins fell into. Sheets of plywood were to be placed over the opening, and a wooden barrier was placed around the well with caution tape as a safety measure.

Edwin Denny, who was sitting at a nearby shop, said the issue of uncovered wells was a longstanding one on the island.

“This is a problem that needs addressing not only in this area, because this isn’t the first person. In St James, a gentleman went off the road to pass water and he fell into one… so it’s something that needs to be looked at,” Denny said.

In Goodland Gardens, concerns about wells and flooding have been a major problem for some time. 

Resident Christopher Alleyne said following the incident, efforts were under way to identify wells that need clearing or securing.

He stressed that communities needed to become more involved, and encouraged persons to report open wells and other hazards. 

“Instead of sitting back and talking, you can get involved and do your little piece,” he said, calling for greater collaboration between residents, authorities and the media to turn “negative situations” into solutions.

But frustration remains high among some residents, who believe warnings were ignored until the potentially fatal incident occurred. 

An older male resident who was visibly angry, questioned why decisive action only comes after tragedy. 

“Nobody speaks about it until somebody has jumped in there, so who next is going to die in there?” he asked.

Residents also complained that poor road conditions may have contributed to the elderly woman’s decision to journey near the well. 

However, they argued that if the area had been properly maintained and the well properly secured, the incident could have been avoided altogether. Despite that, they urged others to remain on the road. 

They explained that livestock could have also fallen into the well, resulting in major losses for its owner. 

Drainage supervisor at the Ministry of Transport and Works, Troy Jones acknowledged that they faced several challenges. 

He said some wells were secluded and not always known to officials. 

“Sometimes it takes a situation like this for something to happen for us to be aware where we could find certain places and wells,” Jones said, adding that the incident would help with mapping and identifying wells over time. 

“Hopefully they’ll be able to eliminate this from happening again.”

Jones explained that while permanent fixes would require further coordination and could take time, temporary measures were being used to reduce the immediate danger in the short term.

This is the latest incident involving someone falling into a well in Barbados. 

In May 2019, a National Conservation Commission worker fell into a 32-foot limestone well at Inch Marlow, Christ Church, after what appeared to be a solid cover gave way. She survived, but colleagues described the experience as terrifying and credited first responders for saving her life.

Two months later, 18-year-old Kyrique Boyce died in the hospital after plunging 100 feet down a well at Martin Road, The Pine, St Michael, when a cover also collapsed beneath him. 

In August 2022, a 20-year-old man fell into a 42-foot well at Clarke’s Road, Hothersal Turning, St Michael. He survived with minor injuries.