By Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
MONTHS AFTER floodwaters receded in the communities of Forest and Chigwell in Hanover, life has hardly returned to normal for residents who complain that they have been neglected by those in authority.
During a tour of the communities by The Gleaner on Tuesday, residents said they have not received any of the assistance promised to them by the Government. "All they did was come and take pictures and our names but, after that, we have not seen them," said May Chisholm, a resident of Forest.
Several residents in the communities were marooned in their homes in September, 2002, following heavy rainfall which inundated the island after the passing of Tropical Storm Lili. In a report earlier this year, the Water Resources Authority said that the floodwaters at Chigwell had peaked and declined completely by November 30, 2002.
But, even with the waters completely gone, residents in the communities say they are still suffering from the after effects. "The flood destroyed my entire crop," Mineva Watt said. "Right now I still cannot find enough young crops to plant to feed my family. I have a daughter to graduate soon, but she cannot graduate because we have no money."
Most residents with whom The Gleaner spoke, agreed that before the floods life was tough, but it had now become unbearable. They say that they can hardly feed their families.
Sharon Watt used to support her family through the rearing of goats. When the floods came all of her animals were killed and she has not been able to replace them. "I don't have the money," she said.
Other residents claimed that damage inflicted on their houses by the rains have not been repaired, because there is no money. "The water rot up all the board in my house and I cannot replace them," Juliet Thorpe of Chigwell said.
The residents say they feel completely neglected by the authorities. "They (Government officials) came and they looked around the place and promised some assistance, but up to now we have not heard a single thing and we need all the help we can get," Thorpe complained.
