Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

A section of South Camp Road, in front of Bethel Plaza, which has been dug up as part of the work being done in time for Cricket Word Cup 2007 set to begin in March. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The three-month- long excavation and sewerage main installation work on South Camp Road, Kingston, in preparation for ICC Cricket World Cup matches at Sabina Park this March, has left a severe dent in the earnings of several nearby companies.

A number of business persons yesterday complained bitterly about the crippling effect the prolonged exercise has been having on their businesses.

Karen Francis, manager of Jacan Rubber Limited on South Camp Road, said business had declined significantly since work started in October 2006 and that she was contemplating closure.

"I am angry, I am considering closing because, if vehicular traffic can't pass here, it don't make any sense," she told The Gleaner yesterday.

"The company is considering what legal action could be taken against the authorities," said Ms. Francis, stressing that "we have lost business and we are going to lose even more."

Ms. Francis said she attended meetings with the agencies responsible for the work, including the National Works Agency, but the response was that "life goes on after Cricket World Cup 2007."

turned off

She said workmen have dug up a section of the road in front of her business place at least three times and customers have been turned off because of the bad condition of the road.

Brian Stevenson, managing director of Issa Transport Group, said the work has had negative impact on the company since it started late last year.

"They have been digging up the road and basically it's been chaos. They don't appear to have a plan that they are working with. It means that sometimes our customers come to get their