Pictured here are workers trying to clean up the Hampton High School for girls in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, after Hurricane Dean, on Tuesday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

ST. THOMAS:

The Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) is stepping up its efforts to ensure persons receive the necessary assistance in the wake of Hurricane Dean, which impacted the island on Sunday.

Since Monday, Red Cross volunteers have been in the field conducting damage assessments and needs analyses. A team of four persons, including JRC's president, director general and director of emergency services, visited areas in the parishes of St. Catherine and Clarendon.

The damage to certain areas in these parishes is extensive.

Yvonne Clarke, director general, has said the JRC, as early as this week, would be assisting persons with seeds and other items. The team visited St. Thomas and Portland on Tuesday to assess damages there.

The JRC has already begun to distribute tarpaulins, food, water and hygiene kits to the parishes of Clarendon, Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, St. Ann and St. Catherine.

- Contributed

Dislocated with nowhere to turn

MANCHESTER:

One hundred and fifty-five persons are still in shelters across Man-chester as a result of Hurricane Dean.

Disaster coordinator for the Manchester Parish Council, Claudia Coley, told The Gleaner that a significant number of these persons are now housed in the Kendal Basic School, in addition to the Mayday and Christiana high schools.

This, she said, will pose a problem i housing cannot be found for them before school reopens on or about September 10.

Christiana High School now houses 55 persons, a number of whom have lost their entire house.

Coley could not, however, say if steps were being taken to secur housing.

Secretary Manager of the Manchester Parish Council, Winston Palmer, said that with the assistance of the Jamaica Red Cross, the council is now looking at several community centres and churches to house some of these persons.

Others, he said, will be assisted with blankets, food, clothing and tarpaulins to cover their roofs where possible.

- Angelo Laurence

Trelawny debates to be held

TRELAWNY:

On September 1, Jamaica Al-liance Movement candidate Ras Astor Black will have an opportunity to debate the issues within Trelawny. A debate among the three parties is slated to take place at that time, with Patrick Harris of the People's National Party and Dennis Meadows of the Jamaica Labour Party, joining Black.

The marathon debate is scheduled to be held at Water Square, Falmouth, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

- Contributed