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Freeman's Hall is one of several communities in the Cockpit Country of south Trelawny with a rich cultural heritage, but many of the people living there say that they feel as if they are being enslaved by not having proper infrastructure.

With Jamaica celebrating 57 years of independence on August 6, the residents are of the view that the time has come for them to begin to see some improvement in their lives, starting with the basic amenities to unshackle their minds from their colonial past.

"The infrastructure of Freeman's Hall hasn't changed in close to 20 years. The simple necessities of life for both the young and old are woefully lacking, to include potable water and a good road network," Diannah Roache, a returning resident of Freeman's Hall, said.

She said that many of the residents are becoming increasingly frustrated. The children and youth have developed a sense of hopelessness as there are no opportunities for them in the area beside farming.

"The possibilities are deteriorating in such a way that we can't get the proper academic success out of the children coming from Freeman's Hall," the returning resident said.

"The possibilities are deteriorating, the lack of community organisation, simple things for the youngsters, and there is no accountability to the community from the political leaders," Roache said.

"It is frustrating, for those who live here and have nowhere else to live. Can you imagine the difficulties returning residents are facing?" she asked "We don't have proper means of potable water, we don't have a hospital, we don't have any programme for senior citizens."

When contacted, Dr Pauline Foster, councillor for the Ulster Spring division, which covers the lower section of the Freeman's Hall community, said that some of the road networks in the community are in need of attention.

"You might have noticed that up at the top of the road, from Albert Town Square, is a little rough, except for two other sections in the middle and the lower level because I did some work on it a little over a year ... . That part is OK. It's not excellent, but it is good," Foster said.

As for the water problem, she said that a portable tank and a catchment tank are now in the community to provide some amount of water to the area.

"What has happened is the pipe leading from the catchment tank has been vandalised by the residents. It is about nine times now that they have destroyed the pipe, and had it not been for that, they would have water," she said.