MP for South Leeward, Nigel “Nature” Stephenson has suggested that the government cover the drains along a narrow stretch of the main road in Lower Questelles.
However, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that addressing the issue is not that simple and would involve acquiring properties.
In Parliament on Thursday, Stephenson told Minister of Transport, Works, Lands and Physical Planning, Montgomery Daniel that the main road in Lower Questelles between WE FM Junction and Questelles Bay gap is very narrow and usually causes vehicular traffic to back up, creating great inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians.
The area representative asked the minister if there was any plan to rectify that situation, and if yes, to outline the plan and say if and when remedial work would begin.
Daniel told Parliament that the road has been identified for possible inclusion under a proposed phase 2 programme of the National Road Rehabilitation Project (NRRP).
“In the interim, the NRRP would carry out surveys and assessments to determine the way forward,” Daniel said.
He said the scope of works includes but is not limited to the rehabilitation of 500 metres of roadway between WE FM and the junctions near Mulzac’s residence.
“The works also include an upgrade to the 300 metres of access road to the Questelles Beach,” Daniel said, adding that BRAGSA, a state agency, had overlaid a section of the access road to the Questelles Beach.
“I am quite aware of several roads like this one which are quite indeed narrow and at the same time, the number of vehicles that are now in this country that are using the roads in the country,” Daniel said.
He said motorists are sometimes not very cooperative where there are narrow roads like the one in Lower Questelles.
“And so, the Ministry of Transport and Works is looking into a number of these roads which, as identified, will be in phase 2 of the National Road Rehabilitation Programme with funding is now being sought.”
After Daniel gave his answer, the prime minister said the government would have to acquire a lot of property.
“Just cover the drains,” Stephenson responded. “Cover the drains.
The prime minister said it is “not a simple issue”.
“It is as simple as that,’ Stephenson responded.
“No. No,” the prime minister said.