By Erica James-King, Senior Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE NATIONAL Works Agency and teams from the Road and Works Department of the Parish Councils worked feverishly yesterday to clear roads in western parishes that were blocked as a result of the torrential rains associated with tropical storm Isidore.
The NWA expects that all roads in western Jamaica that were blocked by the floods, will be re-opened by today.
In Hanover, where land-slippage, flooding and downed power lines were particularly problematic to road users, teams from the NWA and Hanover Parish Council removed fallen trees and debris from the Glasgow-to-Lucea main road.
Making the disclosure, the Hanover Parish Council and NWA noted that heavy equipment was used to clear a land slippage, permitting single-lane traffic in sections of roads that were blocked in Askenish and Mount Piece.
"In Askenish, bamboo and other debris from trees still litter sections of the roadway," said Stephen Shaw, regional manager of the western region of the NWA.
Reports reaching The Gleaner are that in Dias, a landslide was partly cleared by the authorities, allowing for the free flow of traffic.
Downed power lines are still blocking sections of the Jericho-to-Retrieve main road in Hanover. In addition, residents report that roadblocks caused by landslides are still proving to be problematic in Clifton and Cascade in the parish.
Mr. Shaw said the heavy waters associated with the tropical storm caused major scouring of the Riley-to-Bushmount road in Hanover, which will need some repairs.
"Along the Kew-Jericho-to-Cascade road, the heavy rains associated with the storm will set back road work being done under the Major Patching Programme in western Jamaica. It will slow down the patching programme somewhat. There are areas along that road that were marled, but the rain has washed the marl away," Mr. Shaw said.
The Secretary/Manager of the Hanover Parish Council said the waters have receded in the Brissett and Riley communities, where some houses and roads were under flood waters from Wednesday. He said that preliminary estimates of damage to roads in the parish would not be completed before next week.
In St. Elizabeth, teams from the NWA have cleared the Brompton-to-Cotterwood road, which was blocked by trees.
In Westmoreland, the Darliston-to-Whithorn main road, which was blocked by fallen trees, is now clear. But, according to the NWA, that thoroughfare underwent "serious scouring by the heavy rains and has deteriorated in certain parts." Up to press time the Hopeton-to-Auckindown and Petersfield-to- Watchover roads in Westmoreland were still blocked.
Flood waters have receded in sections of New Market Oval, Bath, Smith Field, Bath, Darling Street, Seaton Crescent, Wharf Road, and George's Plain.
Still in Westmoreland, the McNeill Lands area which was awash with flood waters two weeks ago, was once again pummelled by flood waters on Wednesday, and up to late last night, many roads and houses in the community were still flooded.
An assessment team from the Westmoreland Disaster Committee visited the area yesterday to give assistance and assess the problem, Hilma Tate, disaster co-ordinator for the parish, said.
This latest flooding episode comes in the wake of an announcement by Government a week ago, that it intends to spend $3 million to carry out emergency relief work in McNeill Lands, where some 100 householders were affected by flood waters two weeks ago.
Residents have for a long time been demanding that drains in the area be properly maintained, and the side of the Cabaritta be cleaned. They are also demanding that "attention be paid to the Sugar Company of Jamaica's reservoir at Maylarsfield, which affects us when it overflows."
In this community, where pit latrines are prevalent, the residents say the repeated flooding poses a serious health hazard to them.
