Daviot Kelly, Gleaner Writer

The constituency of West Rural St. Andrew is as varied in its terrain and housing units as it is in its people.

It ranges from farming communities such as the now infamous Brandon Hill to the affluent neighbourhoods of Sherbourn Smokey Vale and Forest Hills.

The towns of Stony Hill and Golden Spring are hubs of travel, as most vehicular traffic linking the Corporate Area to the rural retreats of the Junction main road pass through them.

Employment is a mixed bag of professions. Barbers, shop and bar owners, mechanics and small restaurants are regular sights.

Other than the self-employed, the majority of individuals work within the Corporate Area, especially those in the aforementioned hilly regions of Stony Hill, Golden Spring and also Lawrence Tavern.

The reason for this is that the 'well-paying jobs' exist, as residents say, 'off the hill'. Bad roads in sections such as Cavaliers are being paved now but there are more issues the people would like to see taken care of.

Donovan Smith, a 37-year-old security guard who has spent his entire life in the constituency, is looking for better housing options.

Retaining walls needed

"We can't complain about roads right now, but we need better housing solutions. We need it (the cost) fixed at a rate where the poorer persons can afford it," he said.

He pointed out that the closing costs put a strain on some prospective homeowners. However, other than just owning a home, you have to put it somewhere steady and the terrain is not always conducive to hillside dwellings.

"In some sectors, we need retaining walls. When there are heavy downpours, the place falls apart," he said.

"We also need upkeeping, like cleaning of drains. Right now, somebody might come and do one big thing but then there's no more contact after that. We need someone to go around and maintain the area," he added.

For Raul, a resident of Lawrence Tavern, his biggest concern is water. "Right now, we're on a system where we get water every two or three days. There was a span where we didn't have water for about six months," he lamented.

The section of the community in which he resides has to use a tank, which he claims is a blessing, but still has problems.

"There is a tank, but it is defective because it is full of holes. So when the water reaches a certain level, it starts to leak," he pointed out.

Another resident, Antonio, who is an engineer, spoke of another basic utility which they have problems with: electricity.

"Whenever it is breezy, there is no light. The light company says it is a result of falling bamboo. Rain exacerbates the problem because the earth that supports the root system erodes. Not only that but also (electricity) supply is outstripped by the demand, resulting in low voltage," he said.

Other constituents we spoke to highlighted the lack of regular garbage pick-up and telephone service as other areas of concern.

The candidates in the race today for West Rural St. Andrew are the JLP's Andrew Gallimore and the PNP's Andrea Moore.