Dear Editor,
Has this condition arisen from a dereliction of duty or an abrogation of responsibility? Of what do I speak? I am referring to the many undulations or unevenness in the sidewalk or pavement. Who or which organisation is responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk? Who or which organisation devolves the authority to the many business places in the city to create such variations in the level of the pavement? I pose these questions because I have seen the unwary pedestrian and the visually impaired stumble and fall and sometimes hurt themselves as a result of encountering sudden unevenness on the pavement.
I have observed that many business owners in order to prevent flooding and to provide easy access during the rainy season have resorted to raising the pavement. Who gave them the authority to do that, or is it an authority they have arrogated to themselves without any consideration for the impact their actions may have on the users of the sidewalk? Is the pursuit of this method of raising the pavement the most effective way of countering the effects of flooding in the city?
May I ask whether this authority for the control of the pavement falls within the remit of the Mayor & City Council or the Ministry of Public Works & Communications? Will the relevant authority please provide some enlightenment as to the reason why this practice is encouraged and not curtailed.
Finally, I am also curious as to the reason why vehicles are allowed to park and obstacles are allowed to remain on the pavement, resulting in pedestrians having to resort to walking on the road in order to go about their business. This tendency is prominently practised along D’Urban Street.
Yours faithfully,
Hubert Roberts
