St. Thomas residents worried about flooding amid prolonged rain

By Prince Moore    

 

Some residents of Port Morant in St. Thomas are fearful they will be forced to seek higher ground if the rain continues, as floodwaters threaten their properties.

 

The residents told Radio Jamaica News that the Port Morant Square has been flooded from the western approach at the bridge and north from Curtis Bottom.

 

They complain that the lack of proper drainage is to be blamed for the flooding.

 

The residents are calling for China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to act quickly to create a proper drainage system that would allow the water to flow to the sea.

 

Dinsdale Smith, Councillor for the Port Morant Division, said business is being stifled due to the flooding in the area. 

 

"The challenge we really have now is, until those works are done, how do we stay alive and keep the Port Morant Square, district centre alive. There are people who cannot open, have not opened their restaurants for three and four weeks, some for longer than that; restaurants [that] cannot get approval to start cooking again, and all of these businesses that are in the Port Morant square are being starved," he lamented. 

 

 

The severe weather since the start of this week has forced the closure of the Mount Vernon Primary School in St. Thomas.

 

The administrators say the road leading to the school has been heavily scoured rendering it impassable for vehicular traffic.

 

The school will be using the online modality on Friday and until the situation returns to normal.

 

Parents are being asked to keep their children at home during this period and assist them in getting online for classes.