Some Hurricane Sandy victims cry foul

Ravaged by Hurricane Sandy nearly a decade ago, residents of Dump in Annotto Bay, St Mary, are still reeling from the effects of that storm.

Sandra Ricketts, 49, vividly remembers the devastation caused by the category-three hurricane, which, although not making landfall, still managed to unleash powerful winds. The accompanying storm surge sent high waves crashing into many homes along the coast of Annotto Bay.

"It was a day that I will never forget," said Ricketts. "I remember that I was cooking chicken and rice for my family when the wind started during the morning session. It was in October 2012 and everything changed in the twinkling of an eye, as the waves came crashing into the house, sweeping away everything, including my pot of rice and chicken. We were assisted by neighbours and I have not seen my house since."

A Government-led relocation project for the victims has since been launched to assist the approximately 40 families, who lost their homes in the storm. The Crooked River, Annotto Bay Hurricane Sandy Relocation Project, as it is called, has a price tag of $67.5 million. Nearly $15 million of that amount is being spent on the construction of a storm water drainage system and the creation of an access roadway.

Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change Pearnel Charles Jr last week said that 30 of the relocated families have been "servicing their respective payments" for the lots. He said that an additional nine lots will be sold on the open market.

However, Ricketts, who said that she was affected by the storm, is disappointed that she has been overlooked as a beneficiary.

"I was promised land to relocate, but up until now I haven't heard anything more. It is rather frustrating for me, as I am still living on the beach area, but instead in an old shack. Every time there is a hurricane threat to Jamaica, I become frightened as I still remember Hurricane Sandy," she told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Another resident, Donovan Samuels, 61, is blaming political motive for his non-selection as a beneficiary. He said that after he, along with others, were ravaged by the hurricane in 2012, he was duly registered to benefit but that when the list was finalised, his name mysteriously disappeared. He is confident that his political preference played a role in him being overlooked, and is hoping that the wrong that he said has been done to him will be remedied, so he can benefit from one of the relief houses.

Omar Love, one of the persons who lost his house during Sandy, said he has been lucky to get a roof over his head. He, however, said that many Sandy victims have not been so lucky.

"I did benefit and I am really grateful, but there are so many others whose names were on a list but were removed overnight and replaced by others who were politically connected," said Love, who is now living in Portland where he and his girlfriend received a house from Food for the Poor following the loss of his four-bedroom house during the passage of Hurricane Sandy.

"I am not pointing any fingers and I am not calling any names, but the truth is that many of the persons who suffered during the hurricane have still not benefitted in any way. And there is definitely a need to right that wrong," Love said.