The Editor, Sir:

There has been much talk and cries from the citizens in the Corporate Area about road conditions as a result of the heavy showers associated with Hurricane Noel. While I sympathise with you, the citizens who live in the rural areas understand very well what you are going through as pothole-riddled roads are a part of our everyday lives.

In the Wednesday Gleaner dated November 7, it was reported that many persons are fed up with manoeuvring to avoid craters in the roads and the resulting discomfort they feel. You are simply getting a taste of what the citizens in the rural areas have to undergo on a daily basis despite the many complaints written to their Members of Parliament and the National Works Agency.

In many rural communities, the citizens have to pay exorbitant fees for taxi service. In some cases, taxi men categorically say they are not going into those districts.

For too long, the citizens in the rural areas have to undergo these conditions with the roads and only when we block the roads, or when it is coming on to election, they come and throw marl on the roads or patch the roads.

Our cars are being damaged too, pregnant mothers are losing their babies, and we reach work late too, as a result of the bad roads. I implore you Mr. Minister of Transport and Works to please fix the roads and fix them properly. Please ensure that some of the $3 billion for road repairs is spent on the roads in the rural areas because we pay taxes too and relief is long overdue.

I am, etc.,

MARISA DAWKINS

McPHERSON

Boscobel P.O.

St. Mary