Church, Business Community Partner To Repair Road

Reminding themselves of the old saying that 'God helps those who help themselves', members of the Ebenezer United Church and residents of the community joined forces to repair the Meadsfield to Spur Tree road, which passes the 175-year-old church.

The road was the main thoroughfare leading from Newport to the south of Mandeville to the Spur Tree main road for persons going to St Elizabeth before it was destroyed by hurricanes and bauxite mining.

After pleading with the government to repair the road over the last 40 years without success, according to one resident, the Reverend Khereen Bailey, pastor of the church, took the matter to the area's business interests and the communities.

In what appeared to be a surprise to her, the response was overwhelming from all quarters and work started on November 9.

Samuel Smalling, a member of the Ebenezer United Church, who took the matter to the attention of Bailey, told Rural Xpress that he and others were tired of the state of the road, which was getting worse by the month.

A resident who lives a short distance from the church, Annette Swaby, said, "I am 35 years old, and I watch this road deteriorate from I was a child without any attempt to have it repaired."

She claimed that as a result, persons have moved out of the community and service providers are unwilling to make their services available to the residents. The 'bad road' has also proven to be a 'nightmare' to students of the Ebenzer Primary School, as well as those of the historical Moorlands Camp located in the vicinity.

Hearing of the residents' plight, Lincoln Pryce, managing director of Pryce Construction Ltd, said he did not hesitate to offer his heavy-duty equipment and operators to the project.

Another business entity, Moorlands Development Company, has committed to paving the road once it is prepared, while Sand G. Paving has offered to provide some of the material needed. Alpart sent two members of its technical team to assist and is providing all the marl needed, while community members are doing the bushing and other cleaning up of the area.

Head of the South Coast Resort Board and member of the community, Anthony Freckleton, has also joined the effort. He told Rural Expresshe expected the major part of the project to be completed in a matter of weeks, which would revitalise farming in the area and ease the burden of farmers getting their produce to market.

With some amount of disbelief, Roland White, 70 years old, who was born and grew up in Meadsfield, could only offer "thanks to all who are helping" to repair the road before quietly murmuring, "I don't belief it". He said he drove a four-wheel pickup and he was having difficulty traversing the road. That was enough to convince him to play a role in easing the residents' plight.

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