THE EDITOR, Sir:

We, the residents of Bannecall Valley in Windsor Castle, are in dire straits because of the negligence of the Portland Parish Council, from as far back as 1992, when heavy rains caused the river to wreak havoc in the valley, changing course and eroding all lots along its path, felling trees and threatening many houses as well as the main road, from Kingston to Port Antonio.

Successive years have given rise to more and more destruction of the lands in the area and more danger to the villagers. And this time, some houses are directly in the path of the river, yet no one seems to care.

The continuous flooding of the land has eroded it to such an extent, that it has split the land into two lots, by forming a crater large enough to accommodate a trailer lorry. And this situation gets progressively worse each time it rains!

We have written to the parish council twice, we have visited the Roads and Works office - and all we have had are promises. The MP cares nothing about the constituency. No one knows whether he's dead or alive.

But Portland, on a whole is one of the forgotten parishes. We are left to get by as best as we can, coping with awful roads, inconsistent water supply, high unemployment, steep hillside lands which are not arable. No wonder the young people migrate to the city.

I am, etc.,

RUTH COMPTA-BISSICK

Windsor Castle P.O.

Portland