Not a drop more

As darkened skies hung over communities along the Gordon Town main road on Sunday, the pitter-patter of rainfall on zinc roofs was a haunting soundtrack that reminded residents of the catastrophe that unfolded eight months ago.

Tropical Storm Elsa did not pack the violent punch of Eta and Zeta in late October and early November that tore a chunk from the key corridor into a swathe of St Andrew East Rural, but it served as a grim reminder of lurking danger.

As works shoring up the breakaway continue, residents are fearful that the precipice could face further erosion before the rehabilitation project is completed.

“If these rains continue, there will be further disturbance for the residents in the hills because what we will see is a further breakaway. They will not be able to get the sick out,” said a resident who gave his name as Andrew.

“They have been dragging their feet with the road repair, and now, see, another hurricane come causing rain on us again.”

St Andrew East Rural Member of Parliament Juliet Holness indicated earlier this year that infrastructural damage may have been more extensive than originally thought. The National Works Agency has committed to not exceeding the approximately $195-million budget for the September completion deadline.

But those assurances appear not to have assuaged residents like Andrew, who complain about safety hazards on the Savage Pen detour, which is difficult to navigate during rainy periods. The steep alternative route was upgraded at a cost of $60 million.

“Savage Pen is a death trap. Everybody is afraid to drive on it when rain fall. We are in serious problems if this rain continues for another six hours,” he said on Sunday.

A small-business operator in the Industry Village district of Gordon Town, who gave her name as Dalia, also expressed fear that persistent rainfall could contribute to more hardships.

Traders have lamented higher costs charged by delivery trucks, which inevitably make their goods and services less competitive.“There is going to be a whole heap of problems. If this rain continue, wi nuh know how wi a go manage,” she said.

Sunday’s rains triggered several minor slippages along the Gordon Town roadway, with damage sustained to two motor cars that were trying to pass.

Kemar Levy, who was driving one of the vehicles, said that he had stopped to remove a huge stone that had rolled into his path. Suddenly, a heap of rocks tumbled from the hillside and landed on the side of his car, damaging the front door and fender.

Meanwhile, National Works Agency Communication and Customer Service Manager Stephen Shaw told The Gleaner that the agency was sympathetic to the residents’ plight.

“Generally speaking, that is a concern we have with situations of this nature right across Jamaica, oftentimes not during the rains, but after the earth is saturated,” Shaw said, adding that the NWA was prepared to respond to emergencies.

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com