Sajoune Rose, Gleaner Writer

Owen Squire, a resident of Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, who was affected by Hurricane Dean, expresses himself at the third Jamaica National Building Society post-hurricane forum, held at the Old Harbour Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Catherine yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The residents of Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine spoke with passion yesterday as they described going through circumstances, in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, which were extremely similar to their experiences three years ago in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.

As such, they pleaded desperately for the authorities to move with a greater sense of urgency in dealing with their plight, as they attended the third in a series of post-hurricane fora facilitated by the Jamaica National Building Society yesterday.

Received no assistance

They said that, as after Hurricane Ivan, they submitted their names as victims of the storm and have received no assistance. Now they are skeptical and questioned how much help they would receive in light of previous unfulfilled promises.

Many of the residents are fisher- folk and their livelihood has been completely disrupted as they lost everything. One fisherman said he lost 50 pots at sea.

While door-to-door visits are being arranged to assess the damage done to the communities, the people are calling for a centre to be established where persons can report their damage, as many persons do not have a door for the authorities to come knocking on.

Despite having lost everything, the residents say they will move on.

"We have to press for there is life so we have to push out again and work to build up back," said Shirley Manley.