By John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
This house belonging to Carolyn Fitzgerald is almost completely covered by debris brought down by heavy rains in September 2002 in the community of Sommerset, St. Thomas. - Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
WITH THE rainy season set to start in a few weeks, several families continue to suffer from the effects of torrential rains which caused widespread flooding in sections of St. Thomas more than two years ago.
Carolyn Fitzgerald, a single mother with two children, ages four and seven, has been without a permanent residence since the flood rains of September 2002 which buried her 11 apartment dwelling with mud and debris in Sommerset, St. Thomas.
"Mi tired fi seek help now, mi walk till mi shoes heel rub off and all now mi nuh get no assistance," bemoaned Ms. Fitzgerald.
When The Sunday Gleaner visited the area recently, several houses were seen still covered under the rubble brought down from the hills behind the houses. According to 'Banker', an elderly man who sat on a makeshift bench under a tree, at least one family member has emigrated and the others have relocated with relatives or have found alternative accommodation. However, the house belonging to Ms. Fitzgerald suffered the brunt of the disaster. When viewed from the road, the front column of the house served as the only reminder that a building once stood there.
Ms. Fitzgerald lamented that she has lost all her life's savings in the flood. "All mi new fridge weh mi did just buy cover in deh," she reflected, with her head resting in her hand as tears filled her eyes. Unlike other persons, for Ms. Fitzgerald, the sight of dark clouds or the roll of thunder is a frightening reminder of the disaster which took away her pride and joy. "It is the rainy season now and mi a fret cause mi jus' live right across from weh mi house deh and di same ting can happen again," she said as she stared into the evening sky.
Seated on the verandah, Ms. Fitzgerald said she was forced to rent a two-bedroom board house situated one house from the one she owned, because of her inability to afford another plot of land. She explained that she was promised a house by Food for the Poor, if she sourced the land.
DESTROYED
Ms. Fitzgerald said her main source of living was derived from farming coffee and pineapple, but that was destroyed by the flood.
Millicent Blake, Parish Disaster Co-ordinator at the St. Thomas Parish Council, told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday April 30 that all the affected persons in the community had received some form of assistance. However, "since Government does not have a relocation programme in this area as far as I know... persons have to help themselves," Ms. Blake explained.
She noted that Food for the Poor (a charitable organisation) is the only agency which offers housing assistance to affected persons.
Doreen Telfer, whose house was also damaged and covered by debris, was more fortunate to be able to relocate to another part of the community. She had received a house from Food for the Poor. Miss Telfer, who was neighbour to Ms. Fitzgerald, explained that she was able to get the house after securing a piece of land which she leased from another resident who currently resides outside the community. She pointed out that she got no Government assistance. "Mi neva know seh a suh Government stay, a over a year and no help," she asserted.
In May and September 2002, at least 10 homes were seriously affected when heavy rains caused a massive landslide which fell onto houses below. As a result, some houses were badly damaged. Sections of the roadway into the community were also blocked.
The authorities, in assessing the situation, blamed the massive land slippage on poor practices by residents who farm on the hillside. The farmers were blamed for cutting down trees and using the 'slash and burn' method to clear lands for farming. Poor building practices and failure to clean drains and gullies in the area were also identified as contributors to the problem.
Residents of the community say the area has been flooded in the past, but the floods, influenced by a tropical storm two years ago, were the worst to have affected them. The residents feel that the community will experience a similar disaster when the rains come again.
