Highway construction forces Bull Bay residents to relocate

Some residents in Seven Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew, said they will not be able to meet the deadline for relocation as ongoing work on a section of the South Coast Highway continues to move at a blistering pace.

"Well, right now I am looking places but it is hard and I cannot find anywhere. The one month notice is too sudden. I think maybe they should give us a little bit more time because it is not easy to get places in these times," said Ketalia Rattigan, 20, who lives with her aunt on St Thomas Drive.

"Right now, I am not working so the money will be the problem. So far, wi deh pon wi own and mi no think that is fair. I believe that they can assist by giving us some money or find somewhere to put us up until we can find something in the meantime," she added.

People residing near the shoreline along St Thomas Drive were given until the end of April to relocate to facilitate the expansion of the road. Desmond Jackson, 52, said he has cleared land and is trying to erect a small structure.

"But mi don't think mi ago finish in time because dem gi mi a paper fi sign last week Thursday and say mi have 30 days to leave," said Jackson. The labourer said it would be difficult to part ways with the place he grew to call home.

"Mi a live here from '83 from when mi a go school, so it mek mi feel a way cause a long time mi live yah so. Dem say probably mi will get back something because a rent mi used to pay. No, dem never give me nutten in writing, is just that the NWA (National Works Agency) man gi mi the paper and ask mi fi sign it," he said.

Approximately 110 kilometres of road between Harbour View, St Andrew, and Port Antonio, Portland, will be rehabilitated, as well as the 26-kilometre thoroughfare from Morant Bay to Cedar Valley, St Thomas. The project is being executed by the China Harbour Engineering Company and Gisele Johnson, a 37-year-old hair stylist, is hoping the road development brings more business. She admitted that there is a lot of dust from the constant roadwork, but noted the contractors check on their progress in relocating.

"If it seems like a rush now, it would be our fault because we were notified long ago. It is sad that some people don't have any plans or anywhere else to go," she said.