Catherine Hall Residents rush to free drains
By Monique Hepburn and Roy Sanford, Staff Reporters
WESTERN
BUREAU:
Residents in the community of Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, who have
been ordered to evacuate their homes in light of the approach of Hurricane
Ivan, have rushed to free drains of debris in a frantic effort to save
their homes from possible flooding.
Early this Thursday morning policemen on loud speakers were patrolling Catherine Hall, warning residents of potential dangers and advising them to flee the community.
However, in a last minute attempt to stay home, the residents immediately ran to a drainage system which runs beside the community and began using their bare hands and bent steel to uproot trees and garbage that were blocking the free flow of water.
When the Gleaner news team visited the community angry and obviously panicked people had jumped into the filthy water having tied ropes unto themselves to prevent sinking in the deep drain.
"We no want to see no politician down here because the drain no clean over sixteen years now," one woman shouted.
"We not leaving in no dutty wet truck to no shelter, we staying right here," she added.
Councillor Gerard Mitchell of the St. James Parish Council told The Gleaner that he was puzzled as to why the drain had not been cleaned.
"The drains should have been cleaned and I am at a loss as to why
this has not been done," said Mr. Mitchell.