Beryl leaves family of 27 homeless

A family of 27 is urgently seeking public assistance to rebuild their home, which was devastated by Hurricane Beryl.

Mehalia Swaby, the head of the household, described their former residence--a modest three-room board house--as small but comfortable, until it was obliterated by the storm.

"It's eight children, 17 grandchildren and mi and my husband. It was one of the Food For The Poor house, and it was originally two room and a hall, but we put bed in there, too, and make it in a bedroom. Mi daughter did add on another little room. We live comfortably, not gonna lie," she said.

Anticipating damage from the storm, which passed close to Jamaica's south coast on July 3, Swaby and her family had prepared by securing their furniture with tarpaulins and moving to a neighbour's verandah. However, their precautions proved insufficient.

"As the breeze start blow, the entire house gone. Mi tink it was just the roof, but a only the foundation leave. Some of the material drop on the furniture, so dem mash up," Swaby said.

Swaby has sought help from their member of parliament, Pearnel Charles Jr, who sent a team to document the damage. While she is hopeful for support, she is still waiting for confirmation regarding an emergency grant. The Government recently launched the Rebuild Jamaica initiative, offering relief grants of up to $400,000 for completely destroyed homes, $150,000 for severely damaged properties, and $50,000 for those with minor damage.

Swaby said her family has been dislocated and they are currently staying with other relatives and friends.

"Some of us stay with next-door neighbours. The room that I am in, is six of us in it. People may a wonder while all of us did live in the three bedroom, but we were comfortable and we like staying together, and everything we get we would share. We were happy. Each room did have two beds, and four persons would usually sleep on a bed," she said.

Swaby's husband and sons are fishermen, and she operated a small stall selling fried fish. However, the hurricane has left her unable to restart her business.

"If my husband is down by the sea and the fishermen can't find any person den dem will carry him. We were able to make ends meet, because sometimes mi son dem would go sea and dem would carry in little money and we buy food. Mi did have a little stall and mi would fry fish and sell, but everything turn over after hurricane. Mi son dem go out, but the sea nuh normal back, so not much coming back from there," she said.

"Nuff time mi just feel miserable and cry and cuss, because mi just want back my own space. The space limited and there is a lot of noise, and it just uncomfortable. I would appreciate if I could build something bigger than what we did live in before," Swaby added.

The new school year opens in less than three weeks, but Swaby said she is uncertain if all her grandchildren will be attending.

"All now some a the grandchildren package don't pick up. Some of the uniforms don't make or buy yet. Is five boys and 12 girls, age 13 and younger. Some a dem clothes did destroy, so if mi could get some clothes for them mi would be thankful. Mi nuh really need any clothes because mi nah go anywhere, mi just want back a house," she said.

Persons wishing to assist Swaby and her family may contact (87 6) 571-9211 or (876) 205-1210.