By Damion Mitchell,Staff Reporter
A view of a section of the flooded community of Harmons, south Manchester. - Damion Mitchell Photo
RISING WATERS which up to recently rose to 110 feet in sections of Harmons, south Manchester, have begun to recede, but with each passing day the devastation caused by the phenomenon is becoming more apparent.
When the situation there gets back to normal in another 70 to 90 weeks, as officials of the Water Resources Authority are anticipating, life will not be the same for Leonard Carridice, his family, and many other residents of Harmons.
For the last seven months, water levels had risen steadily in the community as a result of heavily charged aquifers following the May/June flood rains in 2002. WRA officials explained that the two weeks of rainfall averaged the total amount of normal rainfall over two years. Heavy rains associated with hurricanes Isidore and Lili further affected the conditions.
Mr. Carridice's was among 20 families who were forced to evacuate their houses just months after the disaster began. Since then, he has been living in rented premises along with some other victims. But, according to him, with a family to support, including two children who are attending high school, and with farming his main source of income made impossible for at least another year, it's difficult to find even his monthly rent of $1,000.
Barrington Nelson, another resident who was fortunate not to have been flooded out, said the phenomenon has impacted on the entire district.
When a Gleaner team visited the area on Thursday, many villagers said they were happy that the water was receding. However, their concerns for life after the disaster are yet to be allayed.
The Gleaner caught up with members of a team from Alpart Mining Venture who were on their weekly visit to the community to provide potable water for the residents.
Alpart (Alumina Parters of Jamaica), the alumina refinery with headquarters at Nain, St. Elizabeth, and which operates in Manchester also, has been assisting residents of Harmons for several months now. Recently, the mining company presented $15,000 cheques to each of six families, considered to be the worst affected, to assist in buying grocery and building material.
According to Mr. Carridice, his livelihood has been further affected because during the May/June flood rains, he lost 10 goats valued at more than $40,000.
In December, 2002, Hilary Bromfield, co-ordinator of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management at the Manchester Parish Council, reported that 17 families had been displaced as a result of the disaster.
In an interview last week, she said the Government has so far allocated about $16 million for rehabilitative work on the Ramble-to-Green-Pond road, an access road to Harmons. In addition, she said, the council was considering procuring portable tanks for the residents to use to store drinking water.
Another resident, Solomon Nicholson, said his concern was that most of the ackee and other fruit trees, their main sources of income, were destroyed by the floods. In the past, farmers earned on average $2,000 per day from ackee sales during harvesting seasons.
Seemingly oblivious of the health risks, some residents still swim in a huge pond formed by the rising water. "To me the Father sen' him water come here so we use it," said Gary Boothe. According to him, they were more concerned about flies called "batlass", which have been plaguing them for several weeks now.
Dr. Beverly Wright, Medical Officer for Manchester, said the Ministry of Health was aware of the concerns about the insects. However, she said that available chemicals that could eradicate the insects could have serious health implications. The "batlass" usually breed in moist or wet conditions.
Dr. Wright said that health inspectors have been oiling the water and fogging the area frequently to minimise the possibility of mosquito breeding.
Also, she advised that residents put fish in the ponds to further minimise the possibility of mosquito breeding, and treat all drinking water with bleach. Dr. Wright said that villagers should not use the water for domestic purposes, should not swim in it, and should not use it for medical purposes as it contains no healing properties.
Access to Harmons is still difficult because a vast area is still under water. The road from the community to Toll Gate, Clarendon, is still impassable and residents who wish to travel to Green Pond, have to use a dirt track.
Residents have been asking whether they will receive assistance from the government now that the water is receding.
Doreth Hinds, who also suffered from the effects of the rising water, lives in the adjoining community of Red Berry. She said that for several months now she has not seen a government representative in the community. "Mi want the government to come and help us because them not doing anything," she said.
Michael Peart, Member of Parliament for South Manchester, told The Gleaner on Saturday that he would be making contact with the relevant disaster agencies today to arrive at a rehabilitative plan for Harmons.
He said that as the water recedes, there would be safety, health and welfare assessments before the residents return to their homes. "We have to manage the rehabilitative programme and residents have to understand that it cannot be an overnight thing," he said.
Responding to concerns that the residents have not been receiving adequate assistance, Mr. Peart said that through several disaster agencies such as the Parish Disaster Committee, the Manchester Red Cross, the Ministry Social Security, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, and with the assistance of Alpart Mining Venture, several projects have been undertaken in Harmons.
Among them, he said, were the relocation of flood victims, the disbursement of food supplies and the cutting of a road to link the community of Harmons with Green Pond. Also, said that Alpart Mining Venture is committed to constructing an all-weather road in Harmons. According to Mr. Peart, preparatory work for that project was already under way.
