Water rising to 27ft threatens Pedro River

Lovelette Brooks, News Editor

"IT BAD, real bad this time around, 85-year-old Alice Sharpe-Smith whispers as she hobbles to join hundreds of fearful residents gathered around the murky lake yesterday, which is threatening to swallow the community of Pedro River in south-east St Ann.

Drawing attention to her swollen right foot wrapped in swathes of bandages, the ailing senior citizen knows that if the water continues to rise, she may be unable to get medical help as long as the rising waters continue to hem the community in.

Last week, the island took a battering from Tropical Storm Nicole, dumping gallons of water on the island. In Pedro River, located in a cockpit valley, the angry water refused to run off.

With water rising as high as 27 feet, the inundated community is cut off from all essential services and stands at the mercy of a Jamaica Defence Force team. Corporal Dwayne Forbes is firmly in charge as he ferries residents and supplies across the lake in the Zodiac - the inflatable boat which seats 10.

"We have had about 20 trips since this morning, and we will be here until the light fades," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

Lincoln Robinson, 54, is the breadwinner of his family and like the other 115 household heads in Pedro River, he is watching and wondering how they will pick up the pieces once again when the water subsides.

"It's the third time, we in Pedro River are having this problem. There was flooding in 2006, 2008 and now. Last time, it was worse, it reached people's doorsteps and even covered some houses," he said.