Cane River residents fearful of losing their homes

Simone Maragh and her 12 children did not rest well last night. In fact, she had to seek refuge at the home of a relative after the heavy rains that have been drenching the island, threatened their home located on the banks of Cane River in Bull Bay, St Andrew.

"Mi couldn't sleep last night at all. I grabbed the kids and leave. Every time the river come down mi fret because the banks cave in more. A the worst this me see it though, more than 30 years me live here and is not like I can just get up with the 12 children and move," she told THE STAR.

Her sister, Anna Kay Johnson, also had to leave her home to seek refuge elsewhere.

"All a mi life me live here and it never so bad. Last night when me hear the big rock them a roll in the river, me just grab mi four kids and mi important documents and leave. The river make some sound last night. Mi did convince say mi house did ago wash way. Mi nah sleep deh tonight if the rain continue. Right now the ground soft so anything can happen" she said.

As a construction company tried to clear debris that had piled up on the banks of the river, dozens of onlookers looked on worriedly. A large portion of the river bank was swept away, causing a utility pole to be uprooted. A truck that was parked on the side of the road, had its wheel hanging precariously over the edge of the bank of the river.

Walter Dean, a resident of the St Andrew community said his only prayers now are for the rains to discontinue.

"Time hot, but, mi a pray the rain just stop or else we nah go make it. Is the second time me ever see something like this. Right now if it continue a lot of people going to lose them house. We need help and a proper fencing of mesh and stone is needed now," he said. 

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