Berlin Road’s ‘wall’ of road neglect comes down

Three decades of toil and suffering for the people of a quiet St Philip community have finally come to the end, after much-needed roadworks in the area have been completed by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources.

Residents of Berlin Road, St. Philip have for years been complaining of the state of the community’s roadway. Several villagers told Barbados TODAY the road had been cratered with huge potholes for well over 30 years and there was always flooding whenever there was a significant downpour.

Andrew Clarke, who lived in the area for over 70 years, said that after years of promises being made and never kept by previous administrations, it was a good feeling to finally see work being done.

“I feel good because it was a neglected road and area, he said. “So if someone starts with the procedure of getting something done, we the people and myself appreciate the work being done.”

Linda Griffith is a more recent ‘Berliner’. After just over four years there, she said the potholes and drainage issues in the area won’t be missed.

Griffith told Barbados TODAY: “It is a lot better, it is great. [There] are no potholes, no humps, but it is good and well done I must say. For the last four years I was here, they had some heavy rain and it was terrible. You could not even walk through it, you had to get someone to lift you over the water because people going to work and walking, it was hard for them.

“Driving [was] okay, you could take your time and go through, but the water was really high and it was terrible.”

MP for St Philip West John King said he was thankful that the road was finally fixed, despite the COVID crisis.

“I would like to say thanks on behalf of the residents of Berlin Road. This has been a matter of concern for the residents for many years. It is even more special that the works have begun in a period of our history when we continue to grapple with the ravages of a depressed economy and COVID-19. It speaks to the commitment of the government to battle through odds in order to create a better life for our people,” King said. (SB)