Bull Bay residents grateful for soldiers’ assistance - JDF personnel help flood-damaged communities clean up after disaster

Residents of Weise Road in Bull Bay, St Andrew have expressed their gratitude to the Jamaica Defence Force's Disaster Assistance Relief Team, which has been working alongside other workers to bring back normalcy to their community, following weeks of heavy rain, flooding and landslides.

"We big up the military because, if a never them, all now we in a rain, sand, mud. If a did contractor a work, them would a watch the days. But the solider them nuh watch nothing. I don't even know if them eat, because them a work all day," resident Idan Rowe, 74, told THE STAR. "If them a come and we say 'solider remember that side need to fix' and them say 'tomorrow', they will do it. Remember, tomorrow not passing."

Another resident, Kerry-Ann Johns added: "Me glad them here working, them do a good job to send out the boys."

It has been more than a week since members of the soldiers were deployed to sections of Bull Bay, where they have been helping residents clear their homes of the silt which piled up after continuous rain swelled the Chalky River in the area.

Very devastating

When THE STAR team journeyed to Weise Road last Saturday, some of the military men were operating tractors while others were busy with shovels, clearing debris.

"What we have seen on the ground is very devastating. The roadways were covered with stilt, about four and a half feet, and we've been doing our best to allow persons access in and out of their homes," one soldier told THE STAR.

Though they have been tasked with a strenuous job, the soldiers said that they have been attacking it with gratitude.

"It is a pleasure to be helping residents, because disaster, like, could have happened to anyone," he said. One of his colleagues said that she feels committed to help residents resurface from the trauma they are now faced with.

"I feel a sense of purpose out here helping the residents that are in need, because it is a very devastating situation," she said "They have also been very appreciative and try to help us with the clearing of their houses."

Many houses in the St Andrew East Rural constituency have been flooded, damaged and even destroyed from the effects of heavy rains caused by weather systems, including Tropical Storm Eta.

In an attempt to help nurse her constituency back to good health, Member of Parliament Juliet Holness launched a GoFundMe account, seeking to raise $US20,000 (approximately J$2.9 million). She said the funds were "to assist recovery efforts in response to devastating flood rains".