Jamaica Gleaner

Residents spurn shelters in St. James

WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents of several communities in St. James, fearing looters and poor conditions at shelters, are refusing to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Ivan bears down on Jamaica on Tuesday.

When The Gleaner visited Cornwall College, only two families from Glendevon and Albion had taken shelter there. Shelter manager, Hazel Reid told The Gleaner that persons living in Canterbury said there were fearful of being robbed.

" Some of them say they are not leaving their homes to be looted," Ms. Reid said.

Meanwhile, residents of the coastal community of Whitehouse in the parish have refused to leave, saying that during Hurricane Gilbert, looters from nearby communities invaded their homes and businesses.

More than 60 inner-city residents sheltering at the Barracks Road Primary School are complaining that they are hungry and are demanding that the St. James Parish Council send food supplies so that they can be fed.

"We want bashment shelter, nutten less than dat. Dem need fi sen some food, so wi can eat and play we music," Doris Grant told The Gleaner.

Residents of Cyril Gully and Perry Street have taken refuge at the Montego Bay High School and had made themselves comfortable. Mattresses have been laid out and babies were seen happily playing, some sleeping, while their mothers played bingo.