- RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Residents of Portland Cottage, Clarendon, voicing their anger at the slow process with which they were being assisted by the government since Hurricane Ivan destroyed their homes. The residents vented their anger after the royal visit of Princess Anne yesterday, at the Portland Cottage Community Centre.
Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
THE PRINCESS Royal's visit to Portland Cottage in Clarendon was almost disrupted yesterday by angry residents who vented their frustration at the slow pace at which assistance was being given to them since Hurricane Ivan devastated that community last September.
But quick action taken by government personnel and the police staved off the residents who were briefly greeted by Princess Anne before she was driven off to her next engagement at Salt Savannah Primary.
However, the residents could no longer be contained after her departure. One very angry person told The Gleaner, "The Princess come inna the community and we can't get to talk to her and we nuh hear weh she a seh. Not even one word weh she say inna the community. This is very very bad."
The resident pointed out, "What I expected was that 20 good, decent citizens to go in there and talk to her about the needs of the community."
FRUSTRATED WITH GOV'T ASSISTANCE
The large, militant crowd that converged at the community centre said that they were frustrated, as they have not received any tangible assistance from the government since Hurricane Ivan.
Shernette Reader, who lives in Portland Cottage, said, "From the storm pass me house deh a ground and me nuh get nothing, not even a sheet a zinc."
Another resident pointed out that the road in that community should have been fixed three years ago but only got attention because Princess Anne was visiting the community.
"These people are phoney ... it is three years this road was to fix. They came in Saturday and throw little gas oil on the road to keep off the dust to impress Princess Anne and people in Portland Cottage don't even have zinc on their house," said the resident.
The protesters also took out their frustration on Winston Maragh, councillor for the Rocky Point division, who was present at yesterday's visit.
In response, Councillor Maragh said, "Right after the hurricane the prime minister announced that they would be taking the relief out of the hands of the politicians and it would be dealt with by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Office of National Reconstruction. We (politicians) don't get a dollar since the hurricane."
