Brooks Level Road in Stony Hill, St Andrew, is in need of dire government intervention, according to locals.

Stony Hill is referred to as one of Kingston’s best places to live, according to some Jamaicans. But this is only true for certain residents who fall in particular tax brackets who can afford to live in the ‘better parts’.

Places like Brooks Level Road, Seaview Road, Stony Hill Road, to the border with Golden Spring, are plagued by crime, bad roads, and lack of proper infrastructure; obvious eye sores for any visitor or resident. Moreso, on Brooks Level Road, where the current councillor Tosha Schwapp is responsible.

The road surface leading down the Brooks Level slope are winding and replete with potholes, ditches and very few streetlights. The infamous community has been in the news more than any other community in Stony Hill, and in recent years the community’s reputation has been reduced to that of the place you simply do not go.

Roads and Streetlights

The aforementioned potholes and ditches along the stretch of a winding road are the main deterrent for people wanting to live or visit Brookslevel Road, Stony Hill. Drivers, whether it be hired or route taxi, complain of the arduous endeavour to travel on the roads. Given the length of the road and the lack of street lights, chartered taxis are usually employed to take residents home, especially at night. The charge starts at J$500 for each trip, up or down. This amounts to a whopping J$20,000 monthly (If you work regularly to travel both ways) and J$10,000 one way.

“It is not just a matter of the journey being long to walk why we find ourselves having to charter, especially at night,” said one resident, 58. “We have very little street lighting, and this is not the safest place on earth.”

“Di road wah fix, and a taxi route wouldn’t hurt.” said a 31-year-old, “Since month they have done some patch works on the road, of course, because of elections. We didn’t deserve roads til now.”

“The roads are in deplorable conditions, I have to fix my [car] front end every two to three months,” shared a 35-year-old resident.

“The roads need better maintenance,” insisted a 29-year-old resident.

Garbage collection

Garbage collection is also a big issue on Brookslevel Road. On the ‘supposed’ days of garbage, you find the roads lined with people who have had garbage stored for weeks anticipating their arrival. The reason for this is unknown but continues to be a point of contention for residents.

“We need regular and consistent garbage removal services.” one resident,31, said. “We wait for weeks, garbage piling up and mongrels [stray dogs] getting into them, making a mess of the community.”

“Garbage needs to be collected every week, if not twice a week.” (29)

Garbage build-up not only

Crime

Brookslevel Road has a crime problem. Most of the crime is gang-related, and reprisal killings, but they happen often enough that residents no longer feel safe lingering outside of their homes.

According to the travel advisory issued by the US Department of State: “Country Summary: Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.

Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.”

Stony Hills’ reputation is not wholly affected by these issues, but in the smaller, less affluent communities, these issues are consistently present and at this point can be considered, sadly, normal.

With the local government election many, including the residents of Brookslevel Road, ponder why they should even bother voting. The current councillor, Tosha Shwapp, has made some effort to ameliorate the residents’ plight. However, much more needs to be done.,