Moderator Dervan Malcolm adresses the audience at the second Jamaica National Building Society Foundation community forum in Portland Cottage, Clarendon, on Monday.

Having recognised the imminent danger of living on the sea coast, the residents of Portland Cottage, Clarendon say they desperately want to be relocated from the community.

Speaking at the second Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation post-Hurricane Dean Community Forum, the residents said they now understood that the area was not safe because recurring hurricanes have proven that to them.

"If me get the opportunity,me woulda move. Me have a likkle house but it not quite alright and the roof blow off inna Dean an me try fi kotch it on back," said John Hill, a resident of Wildman Street in Portland Cottage during the community forum held at the Portland Cottage Seventh-day Adventist church on Monday.

Sophia Thompson, an unemployed mother of five, who received one of the houses on Relocation Boulevard after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, said she was ready to vacate the area.

Sea surge

"Every hurricane is now heading for our path and we live on the sea surge," she said, adding that the one room dwelling she received suffered extensive damage this time around and she had nowhere else to turn.

While pleading for more support, the residents complained that the support currently being provided is through the selective distribution of aid. They claimed politics was influencing who receives assistance and who does not.

"Whoever is in control, to provide whatever assistance they can to the people who are suffering, send somebody who will not represent one or other of the parties because, when they come, they will be looking for who is P or J," said Victoria Williams-Matthews. "We no live no weh. We no have no weh fi sleep. We are a people who are suffering in Portland Cottage."

Basic supplies

The people are appealing for basic supplies as, up to Monday, neither water nor electricity had been returned to the community. The residents had other concerns, such as a need for temporary roofing as the rains continue and their belongings, some of which had dried, were being soaked again.

Ruth Jankee, general manager of the JNBS Foundation, urged the residents to be cooperative while dealing with the aftermath of the disaster.

"Each of us has a responsibility, not just for ourselves, but also our neighbours," she said.

The people also said it was quite insensitive that the election date remained so close and has not pushed back further in light of their situation.

"You wanna tell me [next] Monday is election? Which fool living nowhere gonna be thinking about giving a vote,"asked Shameala Matthews, a resident of Portland Cottage.

Many other persons in the audience were asking the same question.

The first of the fora, which target some of the worst affected communities and parishes in the island, was held in St. Thomas. The series will continue this week.

The next forum will be held today at the Old Harbour Bay Seventh day Adventist Church, St. Catherine, at 2:30 p.m.

A resident of Portland Cottage, Clarendon, one of the communities devastated by Hurricane Dean, voices his concerns at the second Jamaica National Building Society Foundation community forum, held in the parish on Monday. - photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer