Residents in Northern Communities Welcome Long-Awaited Mill-and-Pave Road Repairs

By Shamar Blunt

Residents of three northern communities have welcomed the mill-and-pave scheme to fix their roads – the first repairs, in one instance, in more than 40 years.

In Mango Lane and Bovell Road, St Peter and Grape Hall Terrace, St Lucy on Thursday, villagers who spoke to Barbados TODAY all expressed their thanks for the ongoing work.

The roadworks are part of the $30 million Accelerated Mill and Pave Programme of the Ministry of Transport and Works and its contractor C.O. Williams Construction Limited.

Robert Yearwood said it was a long time coming for the close-knit community: “I glad it finally has been done because it was a long time and it was real bad. Government at least doing something for we down here by fixing the road because [it really needed] to be done. They said they would do it by weekend or by Monday, so that is still good. After all, we waited a long time so we could best wait now.”

John Griffith, who has lived with his grandmother in Mango Lane all his life, said he was glad to see the roads finally being fixed, although he hoped they would also focus on drainage.

“It’s good to see it being done,” he said. “[The] only thing is the middle when you go around the corner, they should put a well there [because] a lot of water does settle there, [but] we appreciate it.”

Griffith added: “They always used to come and patch a hole there and patch a hole here and then it gets bumpy…. Wish it could be smoother now; that would be sweet, the young people could ride on it.”

David Babb, a Bovell Road resident, also agreed that the issue of drainage needed to be addressed.

“It was long overdue,” he told Barbados TODAY. “I’m glad to see it being done because the water used to settle right in front of the houses. So whether it [the rain] fall long or short, it used to flood. So we had problems getting in and out of the house. The last time they did something [on the road] that I could remember, was when Tom Adams was in power.”

John Cheeseman, who grew up in the same neighbourhood but does not live there on a full-time basis, said he was pleased that Minister of Transport Santia Bradshaw kept her promise to the community.

He said: “It is good that they came and fixed [it]. I mean, they are back roads as people… call them, but Mango Lane was very bad – lots of holes – and people have been complaining. Ms Bradshaw went down here last week Monday and said they are going to fix the roads, and really, I think she has stuck to her word. She is doing a good job.

“I feel very good, cause my daughter and my sister got vehicles, and they drive on it, so I know what the costs would be for shocks and that sort of thing, so it is good that they are fixing the roads.”

Terrance Clarke, who has lived in Grape Hall Terrace, St Lucy for 35 years, said that work on the road had been needed for the last 20 years and he was relieved that attention was finally being paid to the roads which have worsened. He noted that passing vehicles would also kick up dust and gravel.