Clarendon relocation exercise ongoing

Jermaine Francis, Gleaner Writer

Mayor of May Pen Milton Brown says there are ongoing plans to relocate persons who live in vulnerable areas in Clarendon.

Brown told The Gleaner yesterday that some residents in Portland Cottage were relocated to Shearer Heights and a new housing scheme was built for some persons in Rocky Point.

He noted that lands were being sought to relocate persons in Halse Hall who were affected by the heavy rains last week.

Brown said some families that were affected by the rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole refused to go into shelters which were provided and instead opted to stay with family members and close friends.

He said there were no reports of families in shelters across the parish and the council was still monitoring the affected areas to see how best to assist these families.

Charmain Williams, the disaster preparedness coordinator for the parish, noted that personnel from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security were currently assessing the situation in the parish so they could have a better idea of how to assist the affected families.

Williams stated that the worst-affected areas in the parish are Four Paths, Swansea, York Town, Milk River and communities in the Toll Gate area. She added that priority would be given to families in those areas.

The mayor said that up to Saturday evening 66 families had been assessed and were given disinfectant and bleach to aid in their cleaning-up exercise. The worst-affected area, however, is a community called Decoy close to Toll Gate, where 22 families, inclusive of at least 32 children, were affected.