Lightfoot residents allege that only the roads of the politically connected are being paved in their dust-afflicted community

Residents in the Lightfoot West community are up in arms about the
condition of their roads and the claim that only the areas in which
government officials reside are being paved.
 
Many of those complaining have lived in that community for
decades, dating back to the days of the Mongul Singh development.
But, since that time, no proper roads have been constructed and, in
2023, the residents continue to drive on marl roads.
 
Residents say that heavy dust emanates from the roads during the
dry season. Then, when it rains, another situation develops: Since
there are no proper drains, the water settles on the roadways and
eventually eats away the marl, creating holes.
 
When these holes are filled in, the marl is later washed away during
any heavy downpour.
 
Residents say that, recently, paving at a particular location is being
undertaken; but the roadwork ends, they claim, near the residence
of an engineer at the Ministry of Works.
 
This is reportedly of great concern to the neighbourhood, as REAL
News correspondent George Wehner reports.
 
Residents say this situation is unfair, as it appears that the engineer
has used his privileged position in the Ministry to have his road
paved. Meanwhile, other members of the community still have to
contend with the poor road conditions after several decades.
 
Wehner is calling on Minister of Works Maria Browne to ensure that
the length of that street is completed, as well as the area’s entire
road network, since the community residents are taxpayers, too.