- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
These ladies look at the ford which leads from the Tavern community to Kintyre. A section of the ford was washed away by the Hope River during flood rains last July.

Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

'WE ARE preparing to pack our kits and run'. Those are the words of resignation from residents of the Papine Development area in East Rural St. Andrew, who fear that the current hurricane season could result in their demise.

Lorrel Smith, chairman of the Dallas Community Council, said damage to hillsides and roads that exist throughout the area since the passage of Hurricane Emily in 2005 have not been repaired despite constant appeals to the relevant. authorities.

He said that promises by the National Works Agency (NWA) to visit the community to assess the extent of the damage has not been fulfilled. Meanwhile, he added that road slippage and soil erosions have worsened. At press time, officials of the Urban Development Corporation , which is responsible for implementing the project, were unavailable for comment.

THE REAL WORRY

Pamela Brown, a resident, said, "The real worry for us in the Dallas/Constitution Hill area is that the Dallas Cane River will wash us away if a hurricane should hit us." She added that the UDC had offered river training for the river that becomes very swift and overflows its banks whenever it rains for an extended period.

Meanwhile, residents from the Kyntre area believe they face an even greater challenge. James Brooke, a homeowner from Kyntre explained that most residents are squatters who currently live on undeveloped government lands. Furthermore, he said the most dangerous scenario exists for those who have erected houses in the 'bed' of the Hope River. He said, "The River has been dumped by squatters to facilitate housing, however, continuous soil erosion immediately above the river presents a threat that must not be ignored."

Proof of the threat is approximately one hundred metres westward, where a rooftop protrudes from beneath a sandy heap. Mr. Brooke said it was a church building that had been washed away and was covered by soil erosions from the hillside above it.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for the area, Joseph Hibbert said he has made numerous appeals to the government, to no avail. "I have suggested that groyns be built around the river to restrict flooding, but all I have received are promises," he continued.

Nonetheless, he said that a short-term remedy is to clean debris from the two rivers to allow a steady flow in one direction.

In contrast, JLP Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Andrew, St. Aubyn Bartlet said he has been making efforts to protect his constituents. "As recently as two weeks ago I called the National Works Agency (NWA) about reconstruction for the western Kyntre bridge," he said.

"Whenever it rains some residents are stranded because the bridge is covered in flooding. The MP said he could only advise his constituents to pray that a hurricane does not hit Jamaica this hurricane season.

However, when The Sunday Gleaner toured the area the NWA was busy reconstructing a section of the Dallas main road. Site manager Jeffrey Dickson said it is part of the recently commenced Critical Road Repair Programme.

Nevertheless, he said he was not optimistic that the programme has come soon enough.