KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fatal accident on Easington bridge has ignited sharp criticism of the Jamaican government’s infrastructure management, with opposition road affairs spokesperson Richard Azan demanding immediate corrective action. On Friday, a local man lost his life after falling into a large, unaddressed hole in the deteriorating crossing, a tragedy Azan calls a preventable failure of governmental responsibility.
In an official statement released following the incident, Azan argued that the death has reignited long-simmering questions about the ruling administration’s flagship Accelerated Bridge Programme. According to Azan, the initiative has repeatedly fallen short of its commitments to deliver critical repair work across the parish of St. Thomas, leaving high-risk structures like Easington bridge unrepaired for months.
“This is a profound failure of duty,” Azan stated in the release. “A Jamaican is dead because we allowed a known hazard to remain open to pedestrian traffic. I am angry and deeply saddened by this completely avoidable loss. The Government must stop issuing empty promises and start issuing work orders. Every day of delay puts another life at risk.”
Azan explained that with no safe alternative crossing routes available to local residents, the community had no choice but to continue using the damaged bridge despite its well-documented structural flaws. That unnecessary gamble, he emphasized, has now ended in death.
The opposition spokesperson laid out two clear demands for the government: first, to table a full, transparent parliamentary disclosure of all infrastructure funding allocated and spent in the region since Hurricane Melissa hit, and second, to install a safe temporary crossing for Easington without further holdup.
“No more excuses. No more waiting. Repair the bridge or build a safe passage. Honour the dead by protecting the living,” Azan added. He closed his statement by extending sincere condolences to the deceased man’s family and loved ones as they grieve their loss.