St Thomas residents cry neglect

The raging waters of the Yallahs River have left several communities in St Thomas marooned since the weekend, but this was not going to stop Memry Edie, whose home sits along the riverbank, from taking her grandchildren to school.

Heavy rains over much of the island in the last four days washed away the makeshift footbridge Edie and other residents of Gordon Castle use to get across the river.

Undaunted, however, Edie said she and her teenage grandchildren removed some of their clothing and waded through the rushing waters in the wee hours of the morning.

"Me have two (grandchildren) to do CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council) and two more going to Albion (Primary School), so we have to come out," Edie told The Gleaner yesterday.

It is an all-too-familiar practice for her and other residents in Gordon Castle, Orange Tree, and Guinea Cornpiece, three St Thomas communities that overlook the Yallahs River.

The residents say they have been left to fend for themselves since 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert washed away the bridge in Orange Tree, which provided a critical link between Llandewey and communities on the other side of the river.

"No matter what happen, if we over deh, we haffi find a way fi come out," said Noel Folkes, a resident of Orange Tree.

fresh frustration

Jittery residents in all three communities say the start of the hurricane season brings fresh frustration every year.

Not only are they forced to leave their homes several times during the season, some residents complain that they lose thousands of dollars in agricultural produce in the process.

"Sometimes the children dem ova deh and the river come dung and you nuh have no food. Sometimes it rough," Edie said, adding that several persons in Gordon Castle have fled their homes.

Since Gilbert washed away the main bridge connecting the communities, residents say agriculture and community life have suffered.

Residents say many persons have migrated and once-productive agricultural lands are now idle as it is difficult to access farms across the river.

They claim to have made several attempts to have a bridge put in place, but their political representatives have been unresponsive.

James Robertson, member of parliament for West St Thomas, the constituency in which the communities fall, said the Orange Tree bridge is one of 10 bridges and fords that need to be replaced in the constituency.

"I am fully aware of it and I have made representation. It is a work in progress. I have to take full responsibility that that is outstanding, but at this time, I do not have a date," Robertson told The Gleaner.