No privacy, no crops - Trelawny woman unhappy after NWA builds bypass road through her yard

Trelawny farmer Cynthia Watt says she is paying a painful price after opening her land to the National Works Agency (NWA), who cut a temporary road through her property when Hurricane Melissa destroyed the main road.

Watt, who has worked the land for nearly half a century, says the bypass has left her yard completely exposed and has destroyed crops she depended on.

"When dem come, me feel like me did a do a good deed. Nobody coulda pass. But this weh dem build no look temporary. Mi yard lef wide open. Anybody can walk in," Watt told THE WEEKEND STAR.

A section of the main road in Lorrimers collapsed due to the severe impact of Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane caused widespread destruction, including fallen trees, uprooted utility poles, and collapsed structures, leading to impassable roads and stranded residents.

The NWA, in a bid to allow for the movement of vehicular traffic through the community, contacted Watt, advising that it was necessary to build a road through her property.

Watt agreed.

She cooperated at first because residents were stranded after the collapse.

Her concerns, however, began to deepen when she received paperwork she believes differs from what she originally signed. She recalled being shown a document at night - one she struggled to read - and being told the road would be temporary. But the copy she has now, dated November 4 and referencing the Main Roads Act, does not carry her signature.

"Dem seh is the same paper, but me never get back what me sign," she insisted.

Under Jamaica's Main Roads Act, the State is empowered to acquire private land and to enter, occupy, or use property whenever necessary to build, repair, or realign a main road.

Watt said that the discussion about her property included compensation. However, she said that she is yet to see a dime despite a road being constructed on her land.

She said work began almost immediately after the storm, with heavy machinery rolling in before she fully understood what was happening. Soil-sample trucks later returned, heightening her fear that the bypass might last longer than promised.

Watt said the land was earmarked for her son to build his future home.

"What hurt me most," she said, her voice cracking, "me buy the likkle piece a land fi mi son build him house. Him send a contractor man fi clean it up, him start draw the block dem... and see it all gone."

When THE WEEKEND STAR visited, the compacted detour now sits just feet from her house. Hills of yam, which were planted in the corridor have been relocated and other crops uprooted.

"The whole a fi mi likkle land cut off," said Watt, noting that the construction of the road, combined with the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, caused tremendous dislocation.

"Mi plant banana, mi did sow carrot, it never even start germinate yet and cho-cho harbour, turmeric, grapefruit, pear... all a that blow down. Dem come right inna mi yard, dig it dung deep and fill it up back. Mi nuh have no privacy inna mi place," she added.

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the NWA, insists the agency acted within the law.

"We are empowered under the Act to carry out the work in the manner in which we have done," Shaw said. "It is temporary because we are working on the permanent solution in terms of design and implementation."

He acknowledged Watt's interest in compensation but noted that restoring mobility was the priority after the hurricane.

"She wants to know about compensation, which is something that will flow from it," Shaw said. "But it is an emergency situation. We are not going to sit down and be thinking about compensation when we have very crucial things to do--and among those is getting people moving."

Shaw said the temporary road followed the only feasible route, which happened to pass through Watt's land. He could not say how much land was used but confirmed it was "enough for a single lane."

He said the detour will remain until a the main road is restored.

"She can rest assured that whatever is due to her, she will get," he said. "We are not purchasing the land; we are making use of the embankment, and the law allows us to do so."