Jane Usher basketball court and surrounding area gets illuminated
If you take a walk down Jane Usher Boulevard, you will see a difference in the neighborhood. That’s because the area of the basketball court which is heavily populated has been illuminated and residents and passerby can now enjoy a safer community. News Five’s Isani Cayetano dropped by for a look at the improvements.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
For years, residents of Jane Usher Boulevard have complained bitterly about the about the deplorable street conditions in their community. While that issue is being addressed by the area representative, another issue of equal concern has been going unnoticed. Despite the neighborhood being fully electrified, there has been a noticeable absence of streetlights and passersby are forced to traverse the area in pitch darkness. The illumination of a nearby basketball court, albeit a minor effort to alleviate the poor lighting condition, is a much needed improvement in the area.
Romel Perez, Resident, Jane Usher Boulevard
“It was frustrating because ina di dark because when gunman come around, nobody can’t see nothing. So now with the light and thing, it light up the area and the light shines on the other street. So we are thankful for it because now we can see what di go on.”
Isani Cayetano
Romel Perez
“Now, the greater problem beyond just lighting the basketball court is the fact that that part of the community remains without any lights on the different electric poles. So it is another project to try to get B.E.L. or the area rep to assist with lighting up the light posts so that you guys can come in and out of the neighborhood and see where you are going and who is coming in. What appeal would you want to make to either the area rep or government officials responsible for that?”
Romel Perez
“Well just to let them know we need the light. Any time we go dah B.E.L., dehn tell wi we need a hundred persons to sign wah petition fi get the light. And every time yo go there, it is the same thing dehn tell you. Yo go to the government it is the same thing…yow ah work pan it and nobody else cohn do nothing.”
Resident, Jane Usher Boulevard
“Been the light deh bout it help us because sometimes people get hurt in the areas yah and now the light give we wah lee more clearance and more light from yah to around the lane or something like that.”
Isani Cayetano
“You live in the immediate area; in the immediate vicinity of the basketball court?”
Resident
“Yes sir. Cross deh soh, still kind of a dark dah night and woulda need some more light across there soh. But as you can see Mister Gilroy Usher di work ih slow time on it. so ih di come through slowly but surely.”
The lighting project is the effort of Gilroy Usher, who has been actively engaged in the improvement of the lives of the residents of Jane Usher Boulevard.
Gilroy Usher Sr., Politician
Gilroy Usher Sr.
“I’m happy to have taken the necessary steps to get the lights working at this basketball court again. And of course this is only one of the many things that I have done to help bring upliftment to the residents of Port Loyola. The lights at this basketball court will serve two purposes. As have already been stated it will provide the youth with light at night to engage in healthy sports. Additionally it will provide needed lighting to a large portion of this community that is jet black at night due to the absence of street lights. I also want to take this opportunity then to call upon the government to address the urgent need of the residents behind this basketball court as well as the residents in Arlington Drive and the residents at Pen Road Extension to provide the necessary street lights for those people as quickly as possible because they urgently need it. Due to the darkness in these areas and the crime situation, it is very unsafe for people to travel in the neighborhood in the absence of streetlights.”
Usher is covering the monthly cost of electrifying the basketball court, where a tournament is scheduled for youths in the community this weekend. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
