Savanna-la-Mar to Negril main road cleared after protest over no electricity

   

Scores of hotel workers and other commuters were forced to a standstill on Tuesday morning after residents of Sheffield in Westmoreland blocked the Savanna-la-Mar to Negril main road to protest the lack of electricity since the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

 

The frustrated residents also blocked alternative routes to Negril with downed trees and old appliances.

 

Up to 11 a.m., the Westmoreland Fire Department managed to clear the main road to allow for single lane access and at least one of the alternative routes.

 

The protesters said the nights have been particularly unbearable since the area lost electricity. 

 

"Hot, miserable, mosquito. My kids dem, heat rash all over dem face, all over dem body. [I] keep buying Ammens powder, this, that, everything!" a father complained. 

 

Councillor for the Sheffield Division, Garfield James, told Radio Jamaica News that the Jamaica Public Service has pledged that efforts will be made to have the electricity restored by Wednesday.

 

Mr. James said he was informed that a shortage of staff has delayed the restoration. 

 

"It is not only Sheffield that is suffering from this. The fact is that most of the main roads have been restored, but there are situations existing in specific turnoffs where there [is] additional work that needs to be done. We understand JPS is shortstaffed, however, five persons manning the parish, as it is now, is not adequate. So we're asking that JPS should see if they can move some more resources within the area," the councillor pleaded. 

 

 

Ellen Allen Bradley, head of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the priority being given to restore critical services to the resort sections of Negril in Westmoreland, has been to the detriment of some residents.

 

Her comment came on the heels of a protest by residents from Sheffield on Tuesday morning.

 

Mrs. Allen Bradley argued that the majority of residents who are without light and water, following Hurricane Beryl, reside outside of commercial areas and are employed to hotels and other major businesses.

 

But she contended that the problems are not new. 

 

"It was water they could not have before, that they have to be buying water. They have to go to work and they have children at the time going to school. Now the children are at home, things are even worse for them. And as I said to the prime minister, that the Negril stakeholders and the Negril environment, the people, don't feel as if they are valued, because I know a lot of concentration is on the hotels."

 

While the hotels may be able to cope, despite bearing some additional costs, she said it is more difficult for the residents, many of whom work in the hotel industry, but still do not have electricity, water or proper roads to commute.  

 

Mrs. Allen Bradley was a guest on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM.