Mayor Gilmore thanks agencies, private sector for support

ST ANN'S BAY, St Ann:

Mayor of St Ann's Bay, Desmond Gilmore has expressed gratitude to the government agencies and private-sector entities that rallied to help the parish prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew.

"I have to say thanks to the agencies and the private sector for their support," Gilmore told The Gleaner on Tuesday.

"We are pleased that with the help of everyone involved, we were able to adequately prepare for the hurricane. The hurricane didn't come, but all in all, we're giving thanks."

The mayor pointed out that while some drains were cleaned prior to Hurricane Matthew, additional drain-cleaning exercises were carried out over the weekend in some critical areas to mitigate the expected impact of the hurricane.

Meanwhile, some residents in St Ann have expressed relief after Jamaica was spared the expected onslaught of Hurricane Matthew.

Marcell Miller of Parry Town, near Ocho Rios, while admitting he did not make any extra preparations, said he was glad that the hurricane did not hit Jamaica.

PLEASED

"Mi glad it never come because nuff people would a sorry," Miller said.

The tourism sector, in the meantime, returned to normal after a weekend of uncertainty.

In a release on Tuesday, the Urban Development Corporation said the Dunn's River Falls and Green Grotto Caves in St Ann were reopened, so, too, Bluefields Beach Park in Westmoreland and Long Bay Beach Park in Hanover.

Reach Falls in Portland and Fort Clarence Beach Park in St Catherine were scheduled to reopen yesterday.

rural@gleanerjm.com