Rowe seeks assistance for poor in St Elizabeth

Andre Gordon, Gleaner Writer

RED HILLS, St Elizabeth:

Richard Rowe, People's National Party (PNP) caretaker for North West St Elizabeth, has decried the state of the poor in the parish and vows to seek assistance for them.

Rowe's comments follow the sub-human conditions that Selvyn Coke, a 69-year-old retired security guard from Red Hills, St Elizabeth, lives in.

"We will continue to advocate for the poor and needy in the constituency," Rowe told The Gleaner earlier this week.

Coke has been living in the small rural community for more than 60 years. He lost his job in 2000 and has been unemployed since.

The quality of his living conditions declined further when in hurricane Ivan, in 2004, severely damaged the one-bedroom house that he has lived in since he was a teenager. It would be Tropical Storm Gustav in 2008 which totally destroyed what was left of the board structure. All his possessions except the frame of his bed were ravaged.

"When Nicole pass everybody sey mi supposed to dead," a dejected Coke, who still lives in the dilapi-dated structure, told The Gleaner.

"Mi condition rough, boss, mi a sleep pon cardboard on mi bed frame, when Nicole pass and mi hear di breeze blowing in di trees, me get fraid," said a tearful Coke as he pointed to what was left of the leaning structure.

Councillor for the Lacovia division, George Powell, said his office was aware of the situation, but said the member of parliament, J.C. Hutchinson, was in contact with Food For The Poor to acquire building material or a house for Coke and his family.

The district of Red Hills is situated in the hills south of Lacovia and is characterised by footpaths, no access to running water, and limited access to electricity.

The major income earner is subsistence agriculture.