A resident of Gilbert Lane has voiced frustration over a seven-year struggle to get government departments to maintain the trees along the public road, expressing concerns about safety and the lack of proper street cleanup. Janice Battersbee has reached out to various government offices, including Parks, Works and Engineering, and Youth and Sport, requesting that the trees be trimmed and maintained on an annual basis. However, despite multiple emails and meetings, the requested actions have not been taken.
The issue came to a head recently when Parks officials arrived to remove a large tree. While some neighbors claimed that the resident never explicitly requested the tree’s removal, the resident clarified, “I never asked for any of these trees to be removed, but I did ask for them to be maintained. When Parks said they were going to take it down, I didn’t object because I was going along with what they had decided.”
Ms. Battersbee emphasized that the focus was always on maintenance rather than removal, stating, “I asked for assurances from Parks and Works that the trees would be trimmed back and maintained annually. That’s all I’ve ever requested.”
During a conversation with a government representative, Ms Battersbee also addressed the issue of leaf buildup, which has accumulated to the point where it blocks the road and creates safety hazards. “I clean the street regularly, but within days, it looks like I was never there. The foliage borders the road, with some trees extending into the street, where they get hit by trucks. This creates safety issues, and government does not clean up the road regularly, as they should.”
Janice Battersbee admitted to depositing the collected leaves on the Somerset Primary School property, as government had previously collected leaves from there. When asked if this might attract rodents, the resident responded, “Rodents are already an issue from the property. I’ve been told to bag the leaves and leave them on the Warren Sinners Community Field, but that’s not my responsibility. I’m paying for government services that aren’t being fulfilled.”
Ms Battersbee has gone as far as to withhold land tax payments in protest, explaining, “It’s the only tax I can withhold, and if I’m paying for services on a public road that aren’t being done, then I feel justified in withholding it until action is taken.”
In response to criticisms that two wrongs don’t make a right, the Ms Battersbee referenced the late Congressman John Lewis, saying, “If you see wrong and get in trouble, make it good trouble. People may not like it, but no one’s listening, and I can’t afford to take the leaves to the dump myself.”
When asked what message they would send to the Minister of Public Works, Colonel David Burch, the Ms.Battersbee said, “Colonel Burch, as I’ve told everyone from Works and Engineering, Parks, and Youth and Sport, I would appreciate a commitment that the trees on Gilbert Lane be cut back, maintained annually, and that there’s regular cleanup of the street. If the trees are properly maintained, we might not have such an issue with the leaves.”
Janice Battersbee ongoing fight highlights the difficulties that many Bermudians face when seeking government accountability on public works issues, as the lack of action continues to affect the safety and cleanliness of their neighborhood.
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