Fourteen Villagers in Shelter in St. Matthew’s

Esperanza Arraiza

At the top of the newscast you saw how the George Price Highway was closed off to vehicular traffic because a hole formed on the middle of the road. Well – that area is known to experience high waters as a result of heavy rains – and just below that near the Beaver Dam Bridge, some homes are already under water. At this time fourteen villagers from Saint Matthew are in shelter. Today we caught up with the chairlady Esperanza Arriaza, as well as two residents who say they are in need of help.

Esperanza Arriaza, Chairlady, St. Matthew’s Village

“We moved faster this time. So, by Wednesday we had people evacuated to the school because we were panicking for what has happened now – that the bridge partial has washed away. So, from Wednesday we have fourteen people in the shelter for now – those that got flooded. I took a walk in that area and yes I can confirm that the houses are under water already.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you expect any other flooding in other areas of the village?”

Esperanza Arriaza

“For now, mile thirty-eight which is the other area that was flooded last time – the water is flowing. Ministry of Works came in and they have a plan in process which is the main drain which will take all this water from that area to the creek. The process has started and we hope the work continues because we don’t want it to start and stay stagnant there. We need it to be finished.”

Linda Young

Linda Young, Flooding Victim, St. Matthew’s Village

“The house wet up. I just ker she deh gone see it; wet up and no help. The zinc nuh good and it the leak. Right now it’s wet up, wet up, wet up. I deh by the school. I neva know I mi mi wah deh yah again. I mi say I hope I nuh deh yah but I deh yah again. All ah we have to move out and so we deh dah shelter four ah we.”

Desiree Guzman

Desiree Guzman, Flooding Victim, St. Matthew’s Village

“My whole house deh flood out right now. I can’t even get fi get in and see what happened or what dah the damage because it flood, flood, flood. I am at the school right now with my kids and dah eight ah we.   The water deh way out and it got current so I can’t go in. The water started this morning but I deh dah the school from Wednesday with my kids so I nuh get to go in and see what happened. I decided to go early yes because it mi ketch me in deh before with my kids and so I never trust again to stay there with them.”

If you’d like to help the Young and Guzman families, you can reach Linda at 608-8153 and Desiree at 667-8950.