WESTERN BUREAU:
HEAVY RAINS lasting several hours pelted Montego Bay and its environs yesterday, resulting in flooding in sections of the 'second city'.
Residents in the inner-city community of Railway Gardens were the most affected, as several feet of water trapped scores of them inside their homes. The rain began about 2 p.m. and continued for about three hours.
Flooding in Montego Bay after heavy downpours has become almost the norm for residents of Railway Gardens. In 1999, more than 300 residents there were promised new homes under the Government's Relocation 2000 programme. However, the relocation efforts have been moving at a snail's pace, while the residents endure constant flooding.
In the meantime, sections of King, Market, Union and St. James streets were also flooded, while the water lapped dangerously at the entrances to some businesses. Pedestrians were forced to seek refuge inside shops and some motorists had to use alternative routes.
