St Ann ‘managed’ Beryl

WESTERN BUREAU:

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis says despite facing challenges, his municipality “managed” amid the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

The mayor was providing a report on the recovery efforts in St Ann last Friday morning.

Belnavis told The Gleaner that there have been reports of homes and businesses damaged during the hurricane and several trees and electric poles downed by intense windy conditions.

He noted that efforts were being made to help affected residents across the parish.

Belnavis pointed to work currently being done in his Ocho Rios Division to cushion the blow caused by Hurricane Beryl.

“I have been around my division five times since the event. There were several houses that were [blown] down, and we have given these people cheques to go to the hardware stores. We have given out cases of water and also food vouchers,” he said.

He further noted that additional relief would be made available for residents who have been dislocated or those who just simply need help.

While reflecting on some of the issues faced during the Category 4 hurricane, Belnavis told The Gleaner that the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital and the St Ann Infirmary received a lot of attention. There was, however, a small hiccup at the hospital as a minor electrical fire broke out, and the infirmary was also damaged by the hurricane.

“I toured the hospital the same morning of the hurricane, and we ensured that we had an emergency operation centre set up there. It was open right throughout the hurricane ... . Doctors and everybody slept there.

“There was a small electrical fire, but it was contained, so the hospital was functional,” Belnavis added.

In the meantime, the mayor said that all the infirmary residents, plus the parish’s homeless, were properly cared for during the natural disaster. The infirmary residents, he said, were relocated to the Marcus Garvey Technical High as the school is not as close to the sea. He shared that all the necessary supplies and amenities were also relocated.

“There was some damage at the infirmary to the zinc roof, and we had to replace those. So by now, they should have completed the relocation back to the infirmary,” the mayor said.

Belnavis further told The Gleaner that like their counterparts in other sections of the island, St Ann’s farmers were on the receiving end of a major blow.

“The agriculture got a little hit. In the hills of St Ann, we grow a lot of yams, ripe bananas, and vegetables, and there is going to be some relief giving from the Ministry of Agriculture to those folks,” said Belnavis.

The mayor further pointed out that the most challenging experience was operating without electricity and cell service across the parish.

“We managed. There was no damage to the municipal corporation [building] or the court, but there were issues.

“The communication [systems] need to be strengthened. ... If their (telecoms and electricity providers’) infrastructure was more resilient, we wouldn’t have any issues,” Belnavis said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com