BUS STOPS IN out-of-the-way places; humorous and sly signs; drainage issues and the sleeping giants – all this to come from the latest Street Beat roam, this week in St Andrew.
On the way to Long Pond, the team first stopped in Farrell’s Road in Lakes at the home where Chaneese Edmund lives. She was featured in the NATION early this year seeking help for her daughter Shaneesia, an adorable seven-year-old who suffers with cerebral palsy. At that time she was having issues securing transport to and from the Challenor School – which have since been resolved.
Shaneesia was at school when the team passed but mum gave a brief update.
“The bus is coming every day and she’s doing good. I still want to get a wheelchair for her, though, and I’m working on getting at least a one-bedroom house for us,” the mother of four said.
Drainage issues
Her stepfather George Edwards pointed to another issue, one concerning drainage. He said the gutter next to their home was currently blocked with dirt which could prove a problem, given the current weather conditions.
“I would like to see the gutter here cleared. I don’t know if it was MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works] or soil (Soil Conservation Unit) but some people was out here two months ago clearing land and they left all the stuff in the gutter. Now if the East Coast Bridge ever get block, the water will flood all out here. During (then Tropical Storm) Harvey, you could only get through here by car,” he said.
From Farrell’s Road, the team set off for nearby Long Pond. Given the driver’s terrible sense of direction, it did not take long to make a wrong turn and instead end up in Corbin’s Village. It turned out to be a welcome accident as Corbin’s Village is an interesting place indeed.
One of the first things that caught the team’s eyes was a pair of old bus stops attached to a fence. While taking a picture was being taken of the unusual sight, the house owner appeared, wondering what was going on. Some smoothing over efforts later, the story came out.
“I just like my garden, so when I came across those old bus stops put out for the dump I took them. I thought they were cute,” said Ruth Emile.
Nearby, organic small farmer Bertie “Bingie” Collymore was tending his land. He told the team the area was full of beach sand.
“Here and Long Pond was connected in times past and all here was water. This sea sand wash from the hills and people used to use it to help build their houses,” he said. (CA)
Read the full story in today’s WEEKEND NATION, or in the eNATION edition.