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The Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School in Government Hill, Barbados, is grappling with a persistent traffic management crisis that has escalated safety concerns and tensions among parents, staff, and students. In response, the Ministry of Educational Transformation has initiated urgent measures, including deploying police officers to the school premises on Wednesday morning as classes resume following a sudden one-day closure. Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles confirmed that at least two officers will be stationed to address the ongoing issues. The ministry is also conducting a comprehensive review of safety and traffic management protocols after reports of chronic congestion, verbal altercations, and gridlock during peak hours. Beckles emphasized the ministry’s commitment to finding both immediate and long-term solutions, stating that a formal report is being prepared for internal review. The school’s abrupt closure on Monday, attributed to “unforeseen circumstances,” left parents scrambling to collect their children. Julian Pierre, Vice-President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), revealed that the closure was prompted by staff shortages and a heated verbal confrontation between a parent and a teacher. During a two-and-a-half-hour meeting on Tuesday, staff voiced their concerns about daily traffic delays and verbal abuse from frustrated parents. Pierre urged parents to exercise patience and mutual respect during drop-off and pick-up times, emphasizing the need for peaceful cooperation. While no physical altercations were reported, the incident involving the teacher and parent remains under investigation. Teachers expressed appreciation for the ministry’s swift response and are hopeful for a prompt resolution to the ongoing challenges.

Residents of St Peter are on the brink of witnessing long-awaited improvements to their local infrastructure, as contracts for major roadworks are set to be awarded within months. Transport and Works Minister Santia Bradshaw recently announced the upcoming projects, which include the reconstruction of the Farm Road bridge and repairs to Warleigh Road. These developments aim to address years of hazardous conditions and neglect in the area.

The Farm Road bridge, rendered unusable after a water main rupture caused extensive damage, has remained closed for an extended period, diverting traffic to Warleigh Road. Bradshaw revealed that the technical designs for the bridge’s reconstruction were finalized earlier this year, and the project is currently in the tender evaluation phase. A contract is expected to be awarded as early as next month.

Similarly, the Warleigh Road project has also been put out to tender, with repair work slated to commence early next year. Despite these promising developments, residents have expressed frustration over the prolonged delays in addressing the area’s infrastructure issues.

Brittany Brewster, a St Peter resident, highlighted the dire state of the road stretching from Hayman’s Market to Speightstown, which has been closed off for years and is now severely overgrown. She also emphasized the lack of pedestrian crossings, pavements, and proper lighting, particularly along the Ronald Mapp Highway, posing significant risks to schoolchildren and pedestrians.

Residents are hopeful that the promised roadworks will finally bring much-needed relief and safety to the community, ending years of neglect and hazardous conditions.

The reconstruction of the Bruce Vale Bridge in St Andrew, Barbados, has encountered yet another delay, exacerbating frustration among Baxters residents. The project, already years behind schedule, has been further hindered by recent heavy rains, which have caused significant setbacks. The bridge, closed since 2021 due to structural failure, is considered crucial by the local community, but slow progress and recurring obstacles have pushed the anticipated completion date further away. Lester Boyce, a resident of Baxters, expressed his exasperation, stating, ‘It’s taking too long. It looks like it’s going to take another two years.’ Boyce, who visited the site after overnight rainfall, noted that the wet weather has worsened conditions, washing away much of the marl and mud along the banks, necessitating a restart in some areas. The Bruce Vale Bridge is one of eight bridges slated for reconstruction under the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Programme. Work officially began on January 13, 2025, with demolition expected to last three weeks. However, by June, George Holder, the Ministry of Transport and Works consultant on the project, revealed that progress had been impeded by unforeseen ground conditions. ‘The major delay has been the redesign of the foundations of the abutments,’ Holder explained. ‘Despite the geotechnical investigations, the actual ground beneath the foundations was not as anticipated.’ Boyce also highlighted the poor condition of the roads in the area, urging motorists to navigate carefully due to loose rocks and uneven surfaces. Despite his frustration, Boyce remains hopeful that the area will eventually benefit from the repairs, stating, ‘At least nothing that I or nobody can do. Just hope for the best.’