The state of the province's roads is a state. And until people of all political stripes decide to stop raising flags of governments past and present, their collective condition will likely not improve.
The road to and from Conche has never been in the shape of high roads worthy of compare to most other parts of the province. Residents of the area have been complaining about it for years and seem to be getting nowhere. What's made it worse is the failed chip seal program from a few years back that did little to restore the people's faith in how government has treated the situation.
The fight was taken to the House of Assembly again last week as area MHA, Christopher Mitchelmore, beckoned action on behalf of his constituents. In conversation with The Star he gave little credit to the province's effort to solve the issue.
"(Government) hasn't shown anyone that they have a plan beyond the day-by-day," he said. "They have strategies, but we don't see that clear plan."
A solidified multi-year plan seems to be an apt solution that the status quo, but there always has to be wiggle room in the unpredictable condition of roads.
If, for example, the area chip seal program had lasted years and not months, there would be no need to revisit it. This type of scenario can play both ways on any given road in the province. That's not the issue.
The sticking point here, the one that has asphalt melting across the province, is the role politics plays in which roads are upgraded and which are not.
From Joey Smallwood's reign, to that of the present day, paving roads for votes has either been a reality or perception throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The extent of its truth will never be known, but as long as politics becomes a forum for roads discussion, people won't think otherwise.
This is not to say the equality of a region and the infrastructure therein should not be brought up in the house, or to your elected members.
It should be dealt with as an independent issue though, when the provincial department is deciding where to pave and where to ignore.
