RhoddGareth Davis, Sunday Gleaner Writer
The two candidates representing the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP) in the constituency of East Portland were involved in a row during a visit to the badly ravaged community of Manchioneal on Friday.
Both political representatives, Dennis Wright of the JLP and sitting Member of Parliament Dr. Donald Rhodd of the PNP, spent the better part of 10 minutes trampling each other verbally, amid the plight of residents who were devastated by the recent freak storm and torrential rainfall.
However, despite the verbal exchanges, the MP gave the residence the assurance that assistance would be provided to those who were victims of the storm and torrential rainfall that ravaged the communities of Manchioneal and Hectors River on Wednesday and Thursday.
"I just sent off a truck to Food For the Poor," said the MP. "This is to pick up bedding and additional material, including mattresses. We do not have adequate supplies here at the local office. Presently, we only have three-quarter (size) beds available and some of you have lost double beds."
But, Mr. Wright is maintaining that it is negligence on the part of the MP, who has failed to implement drain cleaning and maintenance programmes, along with proper river training which could have significantly reduced the extent of damage caused by the disaster.
Lack of understanding
"It is a lack of understanding by the MP in not seeing to the plight of the residence," said Mr. Wright. "Discussions held with residents have shown that there is no preventative maintenance taking place in the area. There are also allegations that money was allocated to do drain cleaning, but there is no evidence that work was done."
So far, assessments, which are being carried out by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, are expected to be completed by this week. The National Works Agency is busily clearing several roadways in Manchioneal and Hectors River, which were blocked.
In the meantime, residents are trying to pick up the pieces and are carrying out major clean-up of their houses and yards, where ton loads of debris were dumped during the torrential rainfall, which lasted for close to six hours.
