Grants Town residents seek aid after flood

The residents of Grants Town in St Mary have called for urgent assistance to help them repair their only road, which has split in two following almost 72 hours of heavy rainfall.

Most communities across the parish were affected by the rain, which started on Saturday afternoon and continued right up until Monday evening. Low-lying communities such as Grants Town, which is situated on the parish's coastline just outside of Port Maria, have been badly affected.

Mary DaCosta, a shop owner who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, told The Gleaner: "There is a drainage tunnel that carries water from the gully, but when it's blocked with garbage, the water runs on to the road and floods my shop.

"This is the third time this has happened. Each government that comes into power knows how bad this road is; I don't know why no one comes to repair it. We have had this problem for a long time, so they must try to do something about it, and urgently."

Her comments were echoed by local taxi driver Patrick Simpson, who explained that the only other road in the district was condemned around four years ago.

Petty politics

Simpson believes petty politics is the main reason the road has not been repaired. He said: "The last time this road was worked on was in 1993, and nothing has been done since then. The surface hasn't even had a little marl.

"Grants Town is split into two, with MP Dr Morais Guy and Councillor Trecia Harris-Smiley responsible for one half and MP Jolyan Silvera and Councillor Bruce Farrell responsible for the other half.

"The politicians say this is a Labourite area, so they have no reason to fix the road because they believe Grants Town people won't vote for them.

"But everybody uses the road, so we need them to put politics aside and do their jobs the right and proper way. Maybe if they did, people might vote for them."