AS PART of our mission to be the People Paper, THE WEEKEND STAR has been highlighting problem areas across the island.

Our reporter, Carolyn Johnson, along with photographer Norman Grindley, will focus on a particular area until the problem is fixed. Now we will have a rough idea of how long the relevant authorities take to deal with some of the problems affecting our country.

Oh, how I wish all the problems we feature were in areas wid nuff 'backative'. Let's look at how helpful the right backative can be.

On May 15 we first reported on the deplorable condition of Oakland Crescent, off Waltham Park Road, St. Andrew. The avenue that looks more like a riverbed is found in South West St. Andrew, constituency of the Prime Minister, Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller.

Then, we said that there were no plans in place for the road as the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, which has portfolio for the road, has no funds.

However, on June 8, the councillor for the area, Audrey Smith, said she was in dialogue with Junior Minister Richard Azan about the road situation. A week later, we were told that the National Works Agency has taken control for the road, based on a request from the prime minister.

Now, guess what?

Measurements were taken last week and a budget is now being prepared to repair the road. "I should hear from them in another week or so as to when the work will commence," Smith told THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday. Talk 'bout backative!

It is our greatest desire that all the issues featured here, and others we have yet to look at, will receive some of this same efficiency and quality service that the NWA refers to in their value statements.

So we hope that by next week they would have looked at the hole in the middle of King Street, found some kind of covering for the open manholes at the St. William Grant Park, and at least drop two wire and a light near the broken traffic light at the intersection of Industrial Terrace and Spanish Town road, if is even to give de illusion say unnu a do some work.