Smelly situation as sewage affects MoBay businesses

Monday morning was not business as usual for Anthony McFarlane, a restaurant operator at the lower section of Union Street in downtown Montego Bay.

He was among a group of disgruntled people who cleared filth from the street after a recent overflow of sewage. McFarlane told THE STAR that he observed and smelled the foul matter coming from a nearby manhole last Thursday. However, it didn't become unbearable until early Friday. According to reports, the overflow was caused by a blocked National Water Commission (NWC) pipeline. McFarlane and other business owners were forced to close their establishments due to the foul smell.

"From Friday mi just lock off. Mi just a gwan clean up mi restaurant, mi nuh bother wid no cooking because of contamination, so you cya serve food," he said. McFarlane added that the overflowing sewage resulted in him losing business and revenue.

"This affect me big, big. Friday mi nuh do no business and today is Monday and mi cya do any business," he said.

Meanwhile, Elton Steadman told THE STAR that he was disappointed to see the condition of Union Street, his regular hangout spot. According to Steadman, a woman carrying her young baby, and another man slipped while trying to walk through the overflowing sewage. He argued that MoBay Mayor Richard Vernon must take responsibility for the mishap.

"It is a disgrace. From Thursday until now? It almost [got] to Tuesday but we haffi tek it up in hand. A mi friend affi call mi from last night fi carry mi hose come. Mi carry the hose come and we get to work this morning. Wah man drop deh suh this morning," he said.

"The mayor shoulda see that it clean. So mi wah know wah him up deh a do as a mayor. That nuh good as a mayor. If you are a mayor, you supposed to know wah gwan inna the town," Steadman complained.

However, a 69-year-old woman, who identified herself as Ms Junie, had a different stance.

"A the people at the restaurants cause all of this. The grease and things weh dem a throw weh. Dem need fi lock dem up fi dem something ya because a nuh suh it usually stay," Ms Junie said.

While speaking to THE STAR on Monday, Vernon explained that he was made aware of the sewage overflow last Friday, and "immediately alerted the National Water Commission, which mobilised their Vactor truck and a team to clear the line". However, he reported that the NWC team was met with some difficulties, and was forced to request assistance from Kingston.

"The rod that they tried to use was insufficient and the Vactor truck had some challenges, so they had to transfer the information to Kingston to mobilise the Vactor truck there to Montego Bay to render some assistance to clear the line. They found another solution by using a sewerage truck to clear the line and it remains clear up to this minute," said Vernon.

Noting that the issue has since been rectified and the road is now reopened to the public, Vernon offered an apology to the residents and business operators who have been affected.

"I know that it has placed them in a very unsuitable situation and up to this morning, I got commitment [from] the National Water Commission that the line can continue to operate without any overflow as long as there is no foreign object blocking the space. The road has been reopened and I am also encouraging the residents to desist from disposing of plastics and other foreign substances in the sewerage system that may cause blockage," Vernon said.