Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
SEVERAL ST. Catherine residents who were to receive Hurricane Ivan relief benefits collected their cheques from the Spanish Town Post Office on Wednesday.
The cheques, paid in the sum of $5,000 each for a home which suffered structural damage, such as lifted roofs, were paid by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
However, the distribution of cheques was not without incident, as the post office authority had to call in the police to bring order to the proceedings, as persons began to quarrel boisterously.
On the arrival of the police, the situation was brought under control and progress continued smoothly.
According to postal divisional inspector of the St. Catherine post offices, Martin Grant, more than 1,000 persons received benefits on Wednesday. He added, however, that several persons who turned up for the benefits had to be turned back as they did not come with any identification.
"We sent them to the NIS office to have themselves sorted out, so as to allow them to get their benefits," he said.
One beneficiary, Merdeth Campbell, told The Gleaner that even though she was thankful for the money, she thought that it was a bit too late.
"A from inna September last year, Hurricane Ivan come and a now dem a pay wi, after Dennis and Emily nearly kill we too," she remarked.
Ms. Campbell questioned when payments would be made to those persons affected by the last two hurricanes.
