Barbados TODAY’s Shamar Blunt takes the bus along the rugged east coast to Bathsheba, discovering a journey marked as much by potholes and frustration as by stunning scenery and attempts at improved service.
Far removed from the bustle of the west, Bathsheba offers a calmer, more serene experience where locals and visitors alike can soak up some of the country’s most striking natural scenery.
Given the appeal of such a destination, having a reliable bus service to the fishing village in St Joseph should be a priority. In my experience, it generally is. The service from the Granville Williams bus terminal is scheduled to run every hour on the hour, and on Thursday, it did just that, pulling out at around 10:01 a.m. with five passengers besides myself on board.
The ride was uneventful up to Grantley Adams Memorial School. Much of the roadway along that stretch has been recently repaved or remains in decent condition. But once the bus crossed McCullough Bridge, it was a different story altogether.
There is no other way to put it — the roads through that area are in terrible shape. Haphazard patchwork fills deep potholes, and in some places the surface is breaking away entirely. The new Chinese‑donated electric bus got a true workout as its suspension grappled with the subpar conditions. At one point, the jolt from a pothole was so severe that a female passenger let out a good ole Bajan “Jesus”, to the amusement of others on board.
A male passenger lamented that roads in that area, along with others across the parish, have needed repairs for decades, yet little has changed.
Conditions improved slightly at Horse Hill, where workers could be seen preparing the heavily used road for long‑overdue upgrades. But as the bus approached Andromeda Botanic Gardens on its way to Bathsheba, the surface deteriorated once again, and the rough ride continued.
Complaints about the state of Barbados’ roads are nothing new. Citizens have raised the issue repeatedly, from radio call‑in programmes to town hall meetings. But in my view, the roads in rural parishes — especially those leading to green, leisurely spaces like Bathsheba — should be treated as a matter of priority.
Waiting in Bathsheba for the return bus to Bridgetown, which took only around ten minutes, I spoke with a female resident who summed it up plainly: “Bathsheba is a really beautiful place, but it’s hard to get here … roads too bad man; sometimes it can be really frustrating even to invite friends to come down here and see you.”
When asked about the bus service itself, she offered a measured view. “It’s not the worst, because I know some other routes are hell … but since they got the new AC buses, it improved a lot if I am being honest.”
Her words highlight the dual reality of life in one of Barbados’ most beautiful spots: while the bus service has improved, the roads remain a barrier. And until that is addressed, the journey to Bathsheba will be as memorable for its bumps as for its breathtaking views. (SB)
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