Sajoune Rose, Gleaner Writer

Twenty residents who made desperate last-minute calls to be rescued from the Pedro Cays early Sunday morning, before the passage of Hurricane Dean, are safe and sound.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on Monday visited the cays by air where all 20 individuals, 18 men and two women, remained.

But, surprisingly, as in the days leading up to the hurricane, they again refused to leave the cays.

The residents ignored warnings by the authorities to evacuate the cays only to find themselves begging to be rescued only a few hours before the hurricane hit land. Luckily this time, they were able to take refuge in the JDF's guard station at the cays and were therefore saved.

Their decision to remain

According to the JDF's Major Charlene Steer, an assessment team checked on the residents and, while it was determined that they were safe, she did not know whether they had adequate food or water supplies to sustain them on the cays. She, however, said it was their decision to remain.

"These are adults and they have made a decision to stay. In terms of their means, I don't know," she said. She further added that the community usually has small shops.

Minister of Local Government and Environment Dean Peart, and Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding both have agreed that forceful action should be used to get persons out of areas such as the cays when a disaster threatens.