Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Apart from having appliances and other items damaged as a result of storm surges associated with Hurricane Dean, Junior Leslie, proprietor of Caribbean Villas and Lounge, had several of his television sets and liquor stolen as looters invaded his property early Monday morning.

Caribbean Villas and Lounge is located next door to the vulnerable seaside community of Caribbean Terrace in east Kingston. A restaurant is also on the facility.

"The biggest problem was looting," Mr. Leslie told The Gleaner Tuesday. He noted that six television sets and about 10 crates of liquor were stolen from the 22-bedroom facility.

This is not the first time Mr. Leslie's place has been damaged by a hurricane. In 2004, when Hurricane Ivan ravaged the island, the property was also severely damaged. It took him three months before he was able to start operating again.

This time, he said, the damage was not as bad as he had built a retaining wall at the back of the building. However, the vicious waters from the storm surge destroyed sections of the wall.

Mr. Leslie said there were guests on his property when the hurricane threatened Jamaica but arrangements were made for them to stay in other hotels.

When The Gleaner visited the facility on Tuesday, workmen were on the property trying to remove piles of sand, which were left in the rooms after the storm surge. Windows were smashed in and several items of furniture were placed in the sun to dry. A 1,000-gallon water tank, which was on the property, was also swept away by the heavy flood waters.

A dining area, which was constructed earlier this year, was also damaged. Notwithstanding this experience, Mr. Leslie said he was not going to pack up and leave. He has committed that the building would be up and running in two weeks.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com