Crystal Harrison, Staff Reporter

Farmer Fredstern Grey, 58, shows the white fly that has been eating away his main crops, the dasheen. - Ian Allen photos

Residents of Comfort Castle in Portland say they have no complaints about the water supply in their area; however, the bad road conditions are affecting their livelihood in the district.

"It suppose to take you 15 minutes to go to Port Antonio, but because of the bad roads and no reliable transportation, it will tek you like an hour or so to reach your destination," a resident told THE STAR.

The residents told our news team that apart from the highlight that their district got from the 2008 Rio Grande tragedy, no attention has been given to the area by the relevant authorities.

farming area

A community resident walks with dasheen plants in Comfort Castle, Portland. - Ian Allen photos

Comfort Castle is one of the adjoining districts that form the Rio Grande Valley. In 2008, 14 persons died after a truck laden with market produce and vendors plunged over a precipice near the Dam Bridge in the Rio Grande Valley.

During a visit to the farming area recently, several farmers took the opportunity to talk about the white fly that has been eating away one of their main crops, the dasheen.

Fredstern Grey, 58, said that he has been a farmer for many years and his two main problems are the bad roads and the white fly that has been eating his dasheen.

"I plant 800 roots of dasheen, the white fly come and eat it down. Di dasheen take nine months to get fit and when we sell it, no money because di people dem want to buy it for little or nothing. The main problem is the road, we need better roads," Grey said.

Another farmer who came out to greet THE STAR team said that the climate in the area is wonderful, but there has been no public transportation for over a decade.

"For about 10 to 20 years we don't have any public transportation. No vehicle don't have nuh red plate, and to go home, you have to pray that you get transportation. The white fly a affect di dasheen for about three years now. We get help from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, but di fly dem get use to the treatment," Paul Burke, a farmer, said.

The police said that crime in the community is minimal, and that they have a comfortable relationship with the citizens.

"You can sleep with your doors open, now and again you might hear of a domestic dispute and we try and tackle it, but apart from that the area is pretty quiet. The roads are in urgent need of attention, that is the major headache that the both the male and female officers have," Constable Steven Clarke of the Comfort Castle Police Station said.

Farmer Fredstern tends to some of his produce. - Ian Allen photos

Residents chill by a shop in Comfort Castle, Portland. - Ian Allen photos