Left: It may appear that this was the scene along Portmore Parkway, St. Catherine, during the recent islandwide power outage last Wednesday, but it is not. This stretch of road, in need of street lights, is always this dark at nights. Right: Tail and headlights are the only sources of light along much of Portmore's Municipality Boulevard, St. Catherine, popularly called I-95. This is the section of I-95 that leads towards the 'On The Run' gas station.- photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

What's not working?

Several of the heavily utilised thoroughfares in the Sunshine City are pitch dark at nights because of a dearth in the number of street lights. Municipality Boulevard and Portmore Parkway are the first two that come to mind.

For the most part, they depend on the lights from the nearby housing schemes which are grossly insufficient. Clearly, some light needs to be shed on the matter.

Synopsis of situation:

The only thing worse than a pothole-riddled road is a pothole-riddled thoroughfare that lacks sufficient street lights. This scenario is even more horrifying if travelling after sundown. Sections of Port-more have their fair share of such roads. Municipality Boule-vard, popularly called I-95, is probably the best example.

Though not as pothole-plagued as the others, the extensive stretch of road, connecting Mandela High-way to Portmore and Greater Portmore is as dark as midnight, if not darker.

There are very few street lights along the roadway and unlike Portmore Parkway, which benefits from the lights in the schemes, the houses are too far away from I-95 for it to enjoy this benefit.

One resident said the situation needs to be addressed because a friend of his once ran into a cow on the dark stretch.

He added that that it would be a great ordeal for anyone who happens to 'break down' on that stretch. It would take a very good, good Samaritan to stop on the dark, lonely road to offer assistance in these times.

The situation is a bit different on the Portmore Parkway, but nonetheless, needs attention because there are hardly any street lights on it and the potholes are innumerable, a deadly duo.

Who's Responsible?

Portmore municipality in tandem with the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS).

What's the status?

A representative from the municipality, Mavis Rose, said the agency is aware of the situation . She said they are waiting for the allocation of funds from the ministry to give JPS the directive to go ahead and light up the thoroughfares.

Conclusion:

The municipality's response is woefully inadequate. The situation has existed for too long for the council to tell well-thinking Jamaicans that they are waiting for funds.

The ministry and the municipality should be ashamed of themselves. By now, we all know that the wait for allocations may, if not always, be for long, indefinite periods. But, this is really a situation that demands urgency, especially along I-95.

It is almost impossible to ply the route without seeing roadkill. Let us not wait until people start getting killed before we take quick action. Something needs to be done to remedy the situation, and it must be done with urgency because people's lives are at risk.

Done by Marlon Vickerman, Freelance Writer.

We want to hear from you!

Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action. Write to: Tyrone Reid, the Gleaner Company Limited, 7 North Street, P.O. Box 40, Kingston; fax: 922-6223,telephone: 922-3400, Ext. 6364 or email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com.