By John Myers, Jnr. Freelance Writer 
The flooded Flat Bridge in St. Catherine on Wednesday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
WITH SOME residents still recovering from the effects of the flood rains three months ago, several communities in Clarendon have again been severely affected by flooding from the heavy rains which have been lashing the island since Tuesday.
The houses of some residents of the Bushy Park Housing Scheme, May Pen, were severely flooded when a large drain which channels water through the community, overflowed. The residents say the sewage-treatment plant which serves the community, was flooded also causing raw sewage to wash through several houses, resulting in household articles and fence walls being damaged.
Bentley Knight, an affected resident, blamed the overflowing of the drain on poor maintenance by the authorities. He said the drain had been neglected for a long time, and only recently were efforts made to clean it. But he said the rain came before the cleaning was completed.
Mr. Knight said the drain has been blocked by large deposits of top soil and debris.
"The drain is not being maintained properly, so you see the debris and all that just gather and restrict this (the water). That is what is causing it," Mr. Knight told The Gleaner.
He said furniture and electrical appliances in his house were damaged, as were his two cars parked outside.
"My neighbour called and said the gully is coming over", he said. "After that, we came out and saw the water rising. But, minutes later the light went, so everything was in darkness. We couldn't save anything, we had to just rush out and go to my neighbour's house."
A very upset Phyllis Scott, a returning resident from England, said her house and furniture were totally destroyed by the water. "The water from the canal come in about nine times into my house (but) this time is the worst," Mrs. Scott lamented.
"Nothing in there is of any use, all the furniture damage, everything damage and I work very hard. I come and spend all my money and I just can't take it anymore," a frustrated Mrs Scott said. She said that both her husband and herself suffered from arthritis and with her house all wet it was causing both of them great discomfort.
The residents said that despite their efforts, which included petitions being sent to both the Member of Parliament for the area and the Mayor of May Pen, to address the situation, nothing had been done.
But Mike Henry, MP for the area, said he had been trying unsuccessfully to get the drains in the area repaired and maintained. He says the area was being politically victimised because of its voting preference.
The Bucknor and Race Track communities in May Pen have been flooded also, with several residences in both communities being severely affected, most of them losing household items.
Norma Pinnock, Principal of the Bucknor Basic School, said classes had been suspended, as most of the classroom furniture was damaged. She said some of the flood-affected residents of the area were now using the upstairs section of the school as a shelter.
Roads in the community have been damaged beyond recognition, with large rocks deposited in the roadway and mud left in several houses.
The communities of Rocky Point and Exeter in the southern end of the parish have been flooded also. A visit to the Rocky Point area saw several yards looking like swamps, and with houses surrounded by water up to the steps.
The Alley Bridge is also impassable, as the Rio Minho is swollen with large amounts of debris being deposited on the bridge.
Residents of the Longsville Park community has also been inconvenienced, as a fording which leads to the community has been flooded, rendering it impassable.
A landslide in the Dykes Road area has partly blocked the roadway. However, a team from the National Works Agency is said to have been sent to clear the area. Also the Brandon Hill main road, Thompson Town-to-Nine Turn and the Spaldings-to-Nine Miles main roads have also been blocked by landslides.
