THE EDITOR, Sir:A BADLY managed situation in Manchester has resulted in the loss of hundreds of street lights that were allocated to the parish last year. Since the Jamaica Public Service failed to install hundreds of street lights in the parish, the Ministry is now saying that all those lights that were requested and approved, are now to be cancelled and a new allocation of lights that represents less than half of last year's allocation is to be given this year.
This unacceptable situation will result in hundreds of persons who have requested and waited patiently for street lights over a period of years being deprived of the facility at the very moment when they thought that they would get the lights. Mandeville has had an unusual number of cases of rape in the last year and the instances occur in dark areas where there is either no street light, or a street light that has not been repaired.
Mandeville also has the honour of having one of the first highways constructed in Jamaica - the Winston Jones Highway in the 1970's - this highway is one of the busiest roads in Jamaica and the section coming up to Mandeville and along to Spur Tree has never been lit!
Even the two large roundabouts become hazards as motorists frequently crash into them because they cannot see them! There are so many accidents on this highway. If there was adequate lighting, the accident rate would fall immediately. Manchester deserves better than this and the town of Mandeville.
I am, etc.,
COUNCILLOR SALLY PORTEOUS,
Deputy Mayor of Mandeville
