The JLP’s Near Decade of Neglect Ends Now” – Nekeisha Burchell Stands with South St. James Residents Over Road Crisis
St. James, Jamaica. January 13, 2025: This morning, bus drivers and taxi operators from the hills of South St. James withdrew their services in protest against the deplorable road conditions that have plagued our constituency for far too long. The disruption left students and workers stranded, once again exposing the harsh realities faced daily by the people of South St. James.
The roads across South St. James are in a disgraceful state, riddled with craters that outnumber smooth patches. Motorists are forced to bear high vehicle maintenance costs, further burdening the commuting public. In 2025, it is unacceptable that residents continue to endure such conditions, worsened by the consistent neglect of basic maintenance such as bushing and drain cleaning.
“The conditions of these roads are not just unacceptable—they are disrespectful. For years, motorists and residents have cried out, but their voices have fallen on deaf ears,” said Nekeisha Burchell, PNP MP Caretaker for South St. James. “The last meaningful road improvements in South St. James were during the PNP’s tenure. This isn’t just about potholes; it’s about a government unwilling to recognise that rural people matter. We pay taxes, follow the rules, and deserve better representation and investment.”
The connection to East Central St. James cannot be ignored. Constituents travelling to Montego Bay rely heavily on the Spring Mount to Johns Hall Main Road, a vital but crumbling route infamous for its disrepair. This stretch, part of the constituency represented for decades by Hon. Ed Bartlett, underscores the chronic neglect of rural areas under the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
“The combined neglect of roadways in South and East Central St. James—the two most rural constituencies in the parish—reflects a blatant deprioritisation of rural communities and their needs,” Burchell emphasised. “Minister Bartlett has served multiple terms, and MP Homer Davis, a 3-term Councillor, former Mayor, and now MP, has had ample opportunity to address these issues. The JLP has been in power since 2016, presiding over nearly a decade of neglect. If they had repaired just one major road each year, we would not be in this crisis.”
Transport operators and residents have made it clear that they will no longer tolerate this level of neglect. Today’s protest could, therefore, be the first of many, as frustration across South St. James continues to grow.
“It should not take protests and disruption for representatives to act. Rural communities deserve leaders who prioritise their needs, not ones who see them as inconsequential. Let’s not wait for another protest to disrupt our daily routines.”
