Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town:

SEVERAL RESIDENTS of Nightingale Grove in St Catherine, frustrated by constant flooding, have put up their houses for sale.

Several for-sale signs were observed in the flood-prone community, where more than 100 of the 264 houses were recently flooded by tropical storm Gustav.

According to president of the citizens' association, Samuel Clunis, while many householders want to sell, they are hesitant.

"We want to sell the houses badly, but who will buy as no one will want to live in this virtual pond?" he asked.

Clunis' views were echoed by Tanisha Cole: "I grew up here and the flooding has worsened. I am blaming it on the development of Highway 2000. When the Coburn gully comes down, it has nowhere to run off."

Other persons also told The Sunday Gleaner that they wanted to relocate.

Houses damaged

In the Ensom City area of Spanish Town where the Rio Cobre damaged several houses, residents also expressed frustration at the situation.

While watching the Rio Cobre in its rage, Winsome Robertson-Campbell shared her story.

"This morning when I reach home, I realised that the place was wet. Soon after, the water reach me at my breast. Mi haffi call out fi help and move mi husband who is sick to another house. The water came there, too, and wi haffi lef again."

She told The Sunday Gleaner that it was the roughest she had been treated by a natural disaster. She said that Ivan did some damage, but not as much.

And even in her despair, she was thankful that she was not among those whose homes had been washed away by the raging Rio Cobre waters.

In the meantime, parish disaster coordinator Patricia Lewis said that while there were fewer than 200 persons in shelters, it was hoped that residents would continue to call to get the necessary help, although resources were limited.