RDC Chairman Michael Power (left), Rural Development Minister Senator Haynesley Benn and Christ Church West Central MP Stephen Lashley (right) viewing the work to be completed by the RDC, with residents looking on.

ALL INCOMPLETE ROADWORKS under the Rural Development Commission (RDC) will be finished in a timely manner.

Minister of Rural Development, Senator Haynesley Benn made the statement yesterday when he visited unfinished road works in Cane Vale, Christ Church.

"I intend to visit in early April as many projects that would have been started under the previous administration, because we need to set up priorities – because as far as the information I have is concerned, there are quite a few roads that have been left undone," he said.

He said for a proper timetable to be set, the areas being repaired had to be identified, "then we have to talk with the stakeholders, like the Barbados Water Authority and others like the National Petroleum Corporation . . . so that the Government, RDC, the stakeholders and the residents can be working together and everyone is on the same page".

Benn, accompanied by Member of Parliament (MP) for Christ Church West Central Stephen Lashley visited Cane Vale Road where work started in October and was scheduled to be completed three months ago.

One man, who requested anonymity, said lack of a road access, dust covering homes, furniture and clothes, and open trenches were concerns for the residents.

"This particular area here, where the soil is cracking, they came to dig a well and some genius said he hit a rock and decided that was it . . . then a day-and-a-half after, the rain fell and the whole thing opened up, the ramp, the fence, everything collapsed."

Another resident, Lorna Millington, found cleaning her windows and walls, said there was so much dust like other residents, she has to keep her windows closed.

Lashley said he was concerned about getting services like water and natural gas connected as quickly as possible, and with the many children and elderly in the neighbourhood, proper signage erected "to ensure that there are no problems".

"I would like to see some kind of status meetings with the residents, because there may very well be issues that once properly explained to residents they would understand.

"But with the absence of information, there are major concerns, like when will the project come to an end and what is causing the constant delays," Lashley said.