Concerns about raw sewage in Portmore Villa

  

Residents of Portmore Villa in St. Catherine are fearful about the health and other implications of raw sewage lingering in their community for months.

 

The residents say the raw sewage has been a recurring issue in their community, but it got worse since November. 

 

They are appealing to the National Water Commission to urgently address the situation. 

 

One resident said the stench from the sewage is unbearable. 

 

"This thing has been affecting us - the water, the sewer water - and it smells very, very bad on top of it. And I have a one-year-old daughter here with me and I have a one-year-old niece here with us so as well. And this thing has been going on for a while and we are extremely tired and fed up about the whole situation because no vehicle can come in [because of] the horrible stench," she complained.

 

"So as early as the morning be and as late as the night, you're smelling the stink right across the board. There is no break from it. So it need a solution," the resident continued.

 

Another woman, Carmen Spencer, said her cake-baking business has been severely affected by the raw sewage.

 

"Because when customers book me and they come and see this, they take back their money. Even in December, I get a wedding and some cake orders. And when the people dem see that, they call me back and say they're gonna disregard it.... So I'm losing customer and I'm losing everything. I have to go elswhere to bake because when you come and see the water, they're not gonna take from me. Dem aguh seh mi nasty or something, or the gate aguh smell a filth," Ms. Spencer lamented.