Opposition MP tells constituents to maintain new road
WILDERNESS, Manchester — Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester North Western Mikael Phillips says residents should not wait on elected representatives to clean drains in their community.
Philips, in addressing last Thursday’s opening of a farm road in Wilderness district — commonly called Back Street (west of Mile Gully) — in his constituency, told residents that the responsibility is now theirs to ensure the road doesn’t fall into disrepair.
“This road is your road now; take care of it. Keep it clean. If you see the drain wah clean out, nuh mek the water tek weh the road because oonu expect MP or councillor fi come pay oonu fi clean oonu own drain. Clean the drain oonu self man, because when the pothole come wi haffi find money to fix it again,” he said.
“I remember when this road was in the condition that if it rained, whatever vehicle came down couldn’t go back up on the street. [I] remember when it was hell for the farmers to take out produce to go out on the street,” added Phillips.
Minister of Agriculture Pearnel Charles Jr officially opened two farm roads that were rehabilitated, at an estimated cost of $17 million, in the constituency last Thursday.
“With the official opening of Back Street and Grasspiece farm roads we are proud to witness that more than 100 farmers are going to be given the benefit of the ease of access. And in addition to this MP Phillips, we appreciate that there will be support given to the surrounding communities,” Charles said.
However, Phillips said the rehabilitated section of the roads, each just under one kilometre, do not reach the heart of farming in the deep-rural communities.
“In many instances, when we do the farm roads like this with the distance that is given… it helps farmers to get out the produce but in many instances it doesn’t go to the heart. I would like to see that when we do roads like this, that at some point we look at how it is that we can continue to be able to go into the heart of the farming area so that the farmers themselves can get the full benefit of the roads,” said Phillips.
Manchester North Western, he added, is important to the good figures and good fortune of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority. “This is an agricultural belt, without North West Manchester the minister’s numbers won’t look good,” he said.
Residents of Back Street and Grasspiece were grateful for the rehabilitation of the roads.
Gary Fleming, a farmer and resident of Back Street who plants Irish potato, sweet potato and yam, said before Back Street was fixed it was a challenge getting even a donkey to carry out produce.
“Mi nah buck me toe again; it is a joy. We had to use donkeys, hustle and jostle. More time the donkey turnover so this is well-needed and welcomed,” he said.
Silburn Steadman, a farmer and resident of Grasspiece Road, shared similar sentiments.
“The whole district is grateful for it. We live down here but it helps others to come in buy crops and everything,” he said.