By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterCAVE VALLEY, St. Ann:
ERNEST SMITH, Member of Parliament for St. Ann South West, has expressed disappointment that Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has not declared the Borobridge division of the constituency a disaster area.
According to Smith, the widespread destruction of homes and properties throughout the division amounts to nothing less than a disaster of major proportions, which he said now calls for an urgent process of restoration.
Mr. Smith said the Prime Minister was in the area on Wednesday to see the disaster for himself and should be convinced of the need for this declaration for Borobridge. This would allow the "necessary actions" to be initiated to restore the lives of the affected residents.
FAMILIES FLOODED OUT
The MP added that while all attention was on Cave Valley and Aenon Town, some 200 families in the enclosed district of Norwood were also flooded out of their homes.
According to Mr. Smith, several houses in the nearby districts of John Reid and Cuffie Ridge were very badly damaged, with some left uninhabitable while others require large sums of money to put them back together.
Mr. Smith said that in addition to damage to individual homes and property, some schools and churches were also badly hit.
For instance, Clarksonville All-Age lost a portion of its roof and there was a similar situation at the Bohemia All-Age, both of which have to introduce a shift system in order to resume classes.
The Member of Parliament said the authorities dealing with relief distribution must also act speedily to ensure that relief supplies get to those in need and on time.
