I am from the section of Western St Thomas which formed a part of Central St Thomas before soil erosion and gerrymandering took that constituency away, and which bears many geographic, political and sociocultural similarities to St Ann, St Mary and Portland.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the recent tragedy in Portland will remain etched in our memories for a long time given the ripple effect of such events.

My worry is that the cycle will continue unchecked because many Jamaicans seem to suffer from short-sightedness, frequent memory lapses, and the inability to stay focused on primary issues.

Rivers overflowing banks, land slippages, broken roads and bridges, houses falling into rivers, individuals drowning, etc., are not features that started only with the rains from Tropical Storm Gustav a few months ago, and which will conveniently be forgotten until the next hurricane season when the 'great phenomenon' and the 'novelty' will provide fodder for enthusiastic journalists and 'concern' from among the powers that be.

Eastern areas mostly affected

These are perennial events which occur across the country with the eastern areas being most frequently and most severely affected; and it would seem as if not much will be done until that end of the island falls into the sea and the geography and demography of the country changes.

Production and agriculture for the local and export markets have been 'washed' or 'blown' away, and will continue to be, until someone really stops to think that seats may be lost not only through votes and court rulings, but through natural disasters.

The dream/vision of the minister of tourism re collaborating with our neighbour to boost his offerings and the country's possibilities in times of scarcity of sand lots, of uncontrolled water, and a variation in the amount of sun, may become 'far-fetched' as his fellow minister is already having problems loading E10 fast enough. Could there be a correlation between the death of the Serge Island sugar industry (affecting mainly western St Thomas) and the pending fate of Duckenfield (affecting mainly eastern St Thomas) and this?

The previous government had made a commendable move to address the Yallahs ford of dear memory, and congratulations to the present administration for moving on in the national interest. Work in other areas including the sea coast in the vicinity of Roselle is also welcomed and appreciated.

However, these are only some of the many factors to be considered in the salvaging of the southeastern and north-eastern coasts of the island; and I hope that included in the river-training programme is the urgent replacement of the historic Easington bridge which was built to accommodate the horse and buggies and the occasional Zephlyn of those days, and not the state-of-the-art North American designed tractor trailers with 40-ft containers, ftatbeds, and tipper bodies of today.

Concern

There is genuine concern for the citizens of western St Thomas, who live in communities near to rivers and who are by no means squatters and informal settlers on captured crown lands, but generations of genuine titled land-owners and entrepreneurs since the abolition of slavery.

They and persons from outside who are visiting the parish are at risk of going down on a bridge or falling off the edge of a cliff even in dry times.

There are whole families, including mine, that have abandoned what remains of acres and miles of property inheritance and investment which used to provide not only income for them, but employment for others, and have opted for perceived safety in other locations.

The good thing is that hope is not lost as the damage can be contained and repaired with some serious thought and action on the part of those who can and should assume the responsibilities.

Let us be proactive even as we heighten reaction. We may not have as many tax dollars in the coffers, but we are not the poorest area in Jamaica; and imagine what could happen with those unutilised and underutilised properties in western St Thomas and eastern Jamaica on a whole, if only someone would address the infrastructure.

Don't underestimate what intellectual property would return or immigrate as well. A son of the soil has already started to give more than a hint of the great possibilities in Portland.

I am, etc.,

ANNETTE PIPER

annipiper@yahoo.com

Mandeville

Manchester