Dear Editor:

Pot holes in major and main roads are dangerous and should be given urgent attention. This seems to be something common to most Caribbean islands. The countries from Cuba in the north to Guyana in the south are considered the Caribbean. Most people in the world see all Caribbean people as one.

What they do not know is that even though we are close geographically, with only minutes in a plane to link us all in many instances, we have many differences in terms of our cultures. Some of these countries include Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, those on the Central American chain and Guyana.

Many of us who have visited many of our neighbouring islands know that what most of us really have in common is the fact that we all have sun, sea and sand. Many of our countries’ lifestyles resemble that of North America. Some of these countries includes Bermuda, The Caymans, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands, The Netherlands Antilles and French territories, and many English independent countries including Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis and more.

This is most obvious in the clothes worn, the food eaten, the vehicles driven and the homes that many live in. What is happening is the culture from this huge country is rapidly taking over our own. It is sad to state that negative influences are being embraced by many. We should reject the bad and follow the good.

I said all this to say that it is time that governments in the Caribbean realize that we are all part of a global village and take full responsibility to keep up to the standards, especially since most of our economies have crossed over in the high way lane of tourism. One of the areas that many of these governments have failed, are roads . We know that many of these countries do not have the resources to compete with the richer nations. how ever, this is not an excuse to have pot holes lying in main and major roads for long periods. It is said that many tourists think that they are in paradise when they visit our countries, how ever, when they experienced the pot holes in our roads then they remembered that they are in the Caribbean. This should not be the case. Some of these holes are like trough when ever rain falls. I guess that’s why animals are being ran over time after time in our roads. They came to quench their thirst but met their death also. How unfortunate .

The governments of these countries should appoint persons from their public works departments to do mobile road inspections. I suggest that these inspectors carry a number of cone shaped road signs with them.These signs should be placed next to or over a hole that is discovered until necessary repairs are done. Holes in these roads could cause serious accidents and could lead up to more road fatalities. It is quite ironic that the speed limit in these roads range from 30 MPH to 60 MPH, yet these holes are allowed to stay in the roads for weeks that sometimes lead to months.The governments will not compensate the tax payers for damage done to their vehicles as a result of these holes. They should then take charge of their responsibilities.

It will take a good driver to negotiate with the holes as they speed along. Others will swing from side to side as if they are playing monopoly to escape the holes. Some will take a more cautious approach, slow down as they journey along .Every suffer should know which action best describe them . It is embarrassing to state that many of these holes usually stay in the roads for so long that many drivers will have to memorize them as the drive to and from their daily routes , especially at nights.

Governments in the Caribbean should copy the good practices from the developed countries .I mean projects that are inexpensive to help boost their economies and create better comfort for their citizens. To have regular mobile road inspections on main and major roads do not require a grant from the CDB Caribbean Development Bank, or a survey from the IMF, International Monetary Fund. Placing these sings next to these holes will warn motorists ahead of time that there is an obstruction or obstructions ahead. Once these signs are place repairs will have to be prompt, or there will be too many of these signs in the roads and will only defeat the hole purpose and cause confusions in the roads. The fact is, holes in main and major roads should be given urgent attention

By Curtis Isles.