More road patching equipment is coming, says Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw.
During the 80th anniversary celebration of JC Bamford Excavators Ltd on Thursday night, Bradshaw, the Minister of Transport and Works (MTW), revealed that, among other things, an order had been placed with the company for six JCB pothole patching trucks to support Government’s road repair programme.
Complaints about the state of roads across the island have been growing louder from both motorists and pedestrians, especially following last weekend’s heavy rains.
At the event, hosted by British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Mustard, at his residence, and in collaboration with Inchcape Barbados, Bradshaw told those present that for more than a decade the JCB machines have proven to be reliable, durable and indispensable to the Ministry’s operations and the country through road construction or a national disaster.
“The Ministry of Transport and Public Works through the Government of Barbados Ministry of Finance has recently placed an order for six JCB pothole patching trucks to support our road repair programme as well as six JCB flail head cutters to assist with the debushing along our highways.
“They were at the forefront of the cleanup and the recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl, demonstrating once again their durability and their excellent performance in times of national need,” she said.
Bradshaw said that the equipment should be here by the end of the year with a view to having the JCB team training MTW teams.
Meaningful patching
“And in early January when we are out of the hurricane season it is our expectation that we will be able to start to do some real pothole, meaningful pothole patching across the country as we continue to do our road infrastructure programme,” said the Member of Parliament
for St Michael South East.
The story of JCB, Bradshaw said, globally and in Barbados, is one of partnership of progress and purpose.
The partnership between JCB and the Ministry has stood strong for four decades after the first pieces of JCB machinery were bought in early 1981 through then local agents, Alston Engineering, she reminded.
Mustard said JCB was a true flagship of British engineering, innovation and global industry and saluted not only the longevity of JCB but the lasting legacy it continued to forge.
“In 1953 JCB invented the backhoe loader, a groundbreaking innovation that transformed construction and infrastructure development globally. That spirit of ingenuity continues today and remains at the heart of JCB’s success here in Barbados and across the Eastern Caribbean, including – you’ll be pleased to know – the latest developments in tackling potholes, something that I know many of you are quite excited about,” he said.
“Across the Caribbean the JCB’s impact is felt every day and through its partnership with Inchcape it has powered the machinery that lays foundations, paves roads, clears the way after natural disasters and supports the vital infrastructure that sustains our communities and economies,” he said.
Erick Montero, general manager of JCB Caribbean, said Barbados was the base for JCB in the region.
“The JCB machines with hydrogen engines has been approved already for 22 countries. So hopefully, beyond what we’re seeing now, we’re going to continue innovating for Barbados and improve the lives of the citizens of Barbados,” he said. (AC)
