Clarendon catastrophe

A catastrophe. That is how Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon Northern Wavell Hinds described the trail of destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The Category 5 hurricane, which tore through sections of Jamaica – such as northern Clarendon – with unrelenting fury, has left communities like Bog Hole marooned, with residents forced to use rafts as makeshift vessels to navigate flooded roadways.

The Gleaner understands that the unconventional mode of transport costs residents $500 per crossing, after which they are met by bike taxis to continue their journeys.

Hinds told The Gleaner that more than 500 homes were destroyed, and the constituency — heavily reliant on farming — has lost its agricultural backbone.

Initial assessments suggest that Hurricane Melissa has inflicted over $20 billion in losses on Jamaica’s agriculture and fisheries sector. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has indicated that the figure is expected to climb, as some of the hardest-hit areas remain unreachable.

“It’s a catastrophe. We have in excess of 500 homes that were destroyed, some flooded, some lost their roofs, and others that were wooden structures were just blown away,” Hinds said, painting a grim picture of the wrath the Category 5 system unleashed across the area.

“All the farms here are devastated. The crops above ground were destroyed, the crops below ground are still under water, and many farmers have lost their livestock,” he added on Saturday.

The MP disclosed that Bog Hole, Aenon Town, Anderson Town, and James Hill were among the hardest-hit communities.

With communities still submerged, fears of water-borne diseases have heightened, adding another layer of concern to an already-dire situation. Hinds has called for the relevant ministries to visit the area urgently and assess the needs of the affected residents.

There was a weight of despondence in his voice as he spoke about the road to recovery, acknowledging that the journey will be long and arduous.

Hinds, however, praised the efforts of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, who have been providing relief and support to citizens and farmers. He noted that further meetings are under way to chart a path forward for the agricultural community.

He also expressed gratitude to Juici Patties for providing meals to the affected persons in the area, an initiative led by Clarendon Custos Edith Chin, proprietor of the popular establishment.

Councillor for the Kellits Division, Noel ‘Pallo’ Nembhard, who is also a farmer, has first-hand experience with the devastation.

“The farming sector is down ... mash down badly, especially banana, plantain, vegetable, dasheen, hot pepper and all that I farm in Bog Hole is under water, so you know Bog Hole people got a huge hit,” he said.

However, amid the loss, there is gratitude.

“We give thanks up here. I spoke to the people here and they’re getting on with their lives, because they realise a lot of people are worse than us. We’re having hope, and giving thanks, because when we look at St Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Hanover, we haffi give thanks,” he added, in reference to the western parishes ravaged by the hurricane.

The scene across northern Clarendon is reminiscent of a battlefield, with homes splintered, crops submerged, livestock lost, and roads transformed into rivers. The hurricane has not only swept away property, but also livelihoods, leaving a scar on the landscape and the hearts of its people. Amid the devastation, there remains a glimmer of hope, carried in the tireless efforts of relief agencies and community partners.

Joel Williams, mayor of May Pen and chairman of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, expressed similar sentiments about the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, noting that Clarendon North Western also felt the brunt of the hurricane. With no cell phone service in the area, Williams said communication with Richard Azan, member of parliament for Clarendon North Western, has been difficult.

He said, however, that the corporation is continuing its assessments across the affected communities, and is working closely with the constituencies to coordinate relief efforts.

“One of the biggest challenges now is the restoration of electricity, and based on communication with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), some areas are connected to poles in St Ann, where work is still under way,” Williams explained.

Communities such as Bog Hole and Aenon Town are located along the Clarendon–St Ann border, and sections of St Ann were also badly affected by the hurricane.

He noted that a river cutting off sections of Trout Hall has also hampered JPS teams from fully accessing certain areas.

The mayor expressed gratitude to the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Defence Force, the National Works Agency (NWA), and other agencies and volunteer groups for their assistance in the ongoing recovery efforts. The NWA, he said, is continuing work to clear blocked roads and restore access to several marooned communities.

Williams added that a comprehensive report was being prepared for submission to Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie.

With connectivity issues still plaguing the area, The Gleaner’s attempts to get comments via phone from Azan and councillors of the Aenon Town and Crofts Hill divisions were unsuccessful.

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com