Many people in Ocho Rios, St Ann, were worried yesterday that the weather system now threatening the island could cause the town to be flooded yet another time.

During heavy rains in April, several streets and businesses were covered with mud, as a result of a some improper development, including construction in squatter settlements near the town.

"People are walking on needles around the town," said Pauline Robinson, manager of NADA Family Joint at the Fisherman's Beach in Ocho Rios.

Veta Record, an employee of Tropical Vibes Restaurant in Ocho Rios, agreed that there was much anxiety in the resort area.

"Ocho Rios is a disaster waiting to happen. Should the rain fall heavily for even a day or two, there is nothing to prevent a recurrence of the ugly situation a few months ago," she said.

Very concerned

The mayor of St Ann's Bay, Ivan Anderson, said he, too, was very concerned about the parish's state of readiness, because only about 70 per cent of drains and gullies had been cleaned.

The mayor also said the parish had not fully recovered from the April flood, adding that the parish council has received only $5 million of the $130 million requested to carry out repairs.

But the minister of state with responsibility for local government, Robert Montague, says he is surprised at the mayor's claims because the council had been authorised to undertake the necessary repair work.