Dangerous open well sparks safety outcry

Residents of Upper Brighton and Melverton in St George are demanding urgent action from the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) to address an exposed well along the main road, which they warn is a grave safety hazard for children and motorists alike.

The unsecured well, which reportedly caved in months ago, remains exposed despite what they said were multiple calls to the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW).

The villagers said a temporary blockage was once put in place but has since been removed, leaving the hazard wide open.

“The well has been here for years, and one evening, it just fell. It had water running in it all the time,” resident Lora Greenidge, who lives a stone’s throw away from the site, told Barbados TODAY on Thursday.

“I came out one day, and it was okay, and by the time I went around the road and got back, I saw the whole thing drop in. I called MTW about it, and they brought a can and put it there. The can was there for two days, and then it disappeared. Nobody else came to look.”

Greenidge expressed frustration over the lack of follow-up, adding that the area is frequently used by pedestrians and cyclists, including many children.

“It’s just there opened up. Children ride bicycles up and down the road. There are a lot of people passing and all kinds of things, so it really needs something done to it. It really needs serious attention,” she stressed.

Another concerned resident, Sandra Gittens, echoed those sentiments, calling on the authorities to act swiftly.

“I’m very concerned about it. MTW got called about it already, and I haven’t seen anything done. A lot of the children over here are running about—they’re flying kites, riding bicycles. I would really like if something could be done as soon as possible,” she pleaded.

Gittens noted that the well has been exposed for months and is a danger not only to children but also to motorists.

While no accidents have yet been reported, both women warned that without urgent repairs, it is only a matter of time before tragedy strikes.

Residents are urging MTW to revisit the site and implement a permanent solution before someone gets hurt.

(SM)