Cabbies pool funds to patch potholes in Parade square
Published:Saturday | April 8, 2023 | 1:07 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
A group of Corporate Area taxi operators pooled funds to patch sewage-filled potholes at the intersection of West Queen Street and West Parade in downtown Kingston on Good Friday.
According to the cabbies, who ply routes from downtown Kingston to various destinations, the potholes had been neglected by the authorities for several months while getting larger.
Apart from being road hazards and helping to create an unsightly mess, an unbearable stench frequently emanates from the murky water settled in the potholes.
On Friday, they packed the holes with sand and stones then covered them with cement.
Taxi operator Kemar Montgomery, who was part of the group patching and collecting funds, told The Gleaner that it was disappointing that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation’s offices are located nearby, yet the potholes had not been repaired for months.
He also expressed concern that several food establishments and food vendors operate in the vicinity with the murky water settling nearby.
“We nuh see no Desmond [McKenzie],” he said, referencing the Kingston Western member of parliament and minister of local government.
“We nuh see no [Prime Minister] Andrew [Holness] and this is the way we see that it can be done,” Montgomery said.
“Do better! Do better! Because at the end of the day, you a go want the vote, and if you in a power and a dis ya little you fi deal with … ,” he urged the political leaders.
Another taxi operator, who gave his name as ‘Lindo’, was pleased with the support as he asked fellow motorists and passers-by to contribute to the effort.
“We fund it wiself – $400 [from] every taxi man. We ask commuters. We ask dem fi $100, but every taxi man, we ask for $400 or more … . We nah bad up nobody! From you say yuh nuh have it, yuh go through,” he said.
Added Lindo: “Whole heap a car front end mash up fi seven months from last year! This a just sewage water – not clean water; sewage water straight.”
Some of the taxi operators did not assist with funds, noting that it was the Government’s responsibility to undertake the repairs.
A number of police officers in the downtown Kingston area on Friday were also in support of the effort.
Constable Christopher Taylor told The Gleaner that although the taxi operators were not given the relevant approval to execute the repairs, he was allowing them to proceed with the initiative.
“I exercise lenience because I understand why; it’s really bad for real. I’m sure the authorities are aware of it and would be probably doing something about it in short order,” Taylor said. “It stay a way fi real. It kinda bad fi real!”
Devon Linton, an artist, applauded the taxi operators for the initiative.
“Mi a walk through the town from mi a youth [and] mi never see this yet. Right a West Parade, West Queen Street [has] the biggest hole in a di city,” he said.