Dear Editor,
Firstly, let me thank the Government for finally paying some attention to D’Andrade Street Newtown. The deplorable condition of the street caused me to spend tens of thousands of dollars in repairs to my car and untold misery to the residents. Last evening, Saturday, 24th of June 2023 repairs were done to a part of the street, (time and materials ran out). I guess they will be back to continue because the equipment is still there. It looks good, even beautiful, a sight to behold, but as it is said, the devil is in the details.
After days of good preparation, the finishing was a mess, at least in front of our home. It would not look that way on the surface but let me explain. When applying the liquid adhesive for the asphalt they missed a sizeable portion of the street in front our house. This was pointed out to them by myself and wife, not one or two but four, yes four different volunteers including the one applying the adhesive. After repeatedly complaining to them, my neighbour to the south also noted the same, (in the presence of his wife and daughter), they did not budge. Even with the camera on and the spraying equipment less than five metres away, they refused to correct their mistake. Later the asphalt was applied to the same dry patch.
When the road begins to crumble you know where it will start from. Yes, the roads are being done, but look at the sloppy work. Mr. Minister (of Public Works) and even President Ali when you speak of quality works being done across the country these volunteers make you out as foolish. I say volunteers because surely they cannot be paid to do what they are doing. As if to rub salt in our wounds, out of the approximately thirty meters of freshly laid asphalt one volunteer choose to walk on that surface. Guess where this happened? Right in front of our home. No mistaking the message it was very clear Put Up Or Shut Up.
We wonder why an American President used such colourful language to describe certain countries. Well wonder no more. When the foreigners do their thing, (and boy are they doing a number on us) we cry foul. One, two, three, four volunteers passed on the other side, No Good Samaritan Here. Look at what we are doing to ourselves, and we expect the foreigners to treat us kindly. Really!!! Dream on.
Sincerely,
Dane Thorne
Resident of D’Andrade Street