Former Cabinet minister Quinton Edness has called on Government to address the lack of proper maintenance to the Island’s roadsides.

“The Government has got to do something about cleaning up this country and getting the grass cut,” Mr Edness said. “We have grass growing up through the sidewalks and branches hanging out over the street.

“In some places it’s actually so bad we actually have to cross to the other lane to get past it. In other areas the grass has been cut, but just left there, and the Island is beginning to look like a Third World country.”

Noting the international attention being placed on the Island by the America’s Cup, Mr Edness said more needs to be done.

“I appreciated that there’s a problem with money and the Government has a tremendous amount of debt to deal with but I believe that the money is being spent in the wrong places.

“They should be using the prisoners on a daily basis to clean up the road sides and cut the grass.”

Mr Edness is just one of several people to publicly express their disappointment with the condition of the Island’s roadsides in recent months.

A recent letter to the editor lamented the unkempt hedges and grass verges on South Road, near Horseshoe Bay, writing: “I was embarrassed to be a Bermudian. We have sunk to such depths, we must no longer care what our beautiful Island has become. Weeds, overhanging trees in the roads and generally just a mess.

“Is this the way Bermuda is going to look going forward? If it is, we must look seriously at finding a better way to get our Island back.”

Another writer said last month: “Weeds and cane grass are taking over almost every little road, and on the whole our infrastructure is crying out for attention.

“Two cars have difficulty passing each other in many spots, as trees and overgrowth block their path.

“There seems to be very little work being carried out to enhance or just maintain our roadways and foliage.”

Efforts to receive a comment from the Ministry of Public Works on the complaints were unsuccessful as of last night, however the Ministry did release a statement telling homeowners to ensure that trees and bushes that extend over public roads are properly trimmed, threatening to withhold kerbside trash collection in areas that fail to comply.