Blacktip Island residents are protesting the government’s plan to paint lane lines on the island’s roads, including the one leading to the Caribbean island’s northern lighthouse. (photo courtesy of nas at wts wikivoyage)
A plan to paint stripes down Blacktip Island’s two roads, announced Wednesday afternoon, resulted in an impromptu protest at the small Caribbean island’s Public Works building, with local residents voicing their opposition to the project.
“Road stripes are the last thing we need,” Christina Mojarra said. “Blacktip’s not that kind of island. Folks come here, and stay here, because we don’t complicate life with things like lane lines. The roads are fine just like they are.
“You stripe the roads, it’s just a slippery slope toward becoming a big city,” Mojarra said. “Next thing you know, more folks’ll start moving here. Wanting traffic lights. There’s already too many people on the island, and out-of-the-blue road stripes’ll just confuse everybody.”
Many residents were more cynical.
“Striping the roads is just a scam to get government funds,” government watchdog Wade Soote said. “Stoney MacAdam at Public Works, his cousin’s in the legislature. Stoney just pulled strings to boost his budget. And, big picture, both Blacktip’s roads are dirt. Any stripes they paint’ll come off in a good rain. Or a bit of wind. It’ll be a never-ending road project money pit.”
MacAdam emphasized the need for the stripes.
“Visitors here laugh at us for being a backwater,” he said. “If Blacktip wants to be seen as part of the First World, it has to look like it. Change is coming, whether people like it or not. We’re just getting out ahead of that with this striping project.”
Some residents praised the stripes.
“They’ll improve road safety and provide jobs,” Chrissy Graysby said. “Plus, the kiddos love the fresh paint smell. When the paint-striping truck goes down the road, they love to run behind it and sniff the fumes. We’re stockpiling cans of spray paint in case Public Works runs out.”
Others vowed to fight the striping.
“Soon as they spray them lines, I’m gonna drive down the middle of the road dragging a mangrove branch,” Dermott Bottoms said. “Erase them lines as fast as Stoney and them can put ‘em down. Not gonna stand for that kind of thing on Blacktip.”
The Blacktip Times 
Loved Stoney MacAdam!